A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Vertes family of Belgium.
Reg. 6322 · Belgian, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à la croix de gu., cant. de douze merlettes de sa., trois à chaque canton, 2 et 1. Cg. cour. C.: une merlette de sa L.: d'or et de gu. S.: deux lions reg. d'or, arm. et lamp. de gu.”
BelgiumTournai, c. 1721
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Map of Belgium showing where the Vertes arms are recorded
The Vertes arms were recorded in Tournai, c. 1721.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Belgium when the Vertes arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Belgium.
Origin & History of the Vertes Family in Belgium
The family name Vertes carries a history deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of the Low Countries, with documented evidence placing the family in the city of Tournai by 1721. During the early eighteenth century, Tournai was a significant center for trade and craftsmanship, serving as a crossroads between French and Flemish influences. Families living in this region often derived their surnames from local geography, occupations, or descriptive traits, and the name Vertes likely emerged from these linguistic traditions. As residents of a city frequently caught between shifting political powers, the early members of the Vertes family were part of a resilient urban class that navigated the complexities of life in a fortified border town. Their presence in the official records of Tournai suggests they were established members of the community who contributed to the local economy and social fabric of the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
viridis
Latin term meaning green or flourishing.
This name
VertesA topographic or descriptive surname referring to someone who lived near a green area or meadow.
also spelled
Vertegan
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives de l'État à Tournai, Registres paroissiaux de la ville de Tournai, 1721
Dumont, Georges-Henri, Histoire de la Belgique: des origines à nos jours, 1977
Pirenne, Henri, Histoire de Belgique, 1929
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
