A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Vivere family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3947 · French, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'arg. au chev. de gu., acc. de trois hures de sanglier de sa.; et surm. d'une fasce diminuée de gu., abaissée sous trois pommes au nat., tigées et feuillées de sin., les tiges en haut, rangées en fasce.”
FlandreFlandre, c. 1663
Where the Vivere Arms Were Recorded
Flandre
Map of France showing where the Vivere arms are recorded
The Vivere arms were recorded in Flandre, c. 1663.
Flandre grew rich on cloth, and its towns were among the busiest in Europe. Merchant families bought land with their profits and took arms to go with it, so trade put as many names in the registers here as land did.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Vivere arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Flandre.
Origin & History of the Vivere Family in France
The family name Vivere traces its roots to the historical region of Flanders, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, this area was a busy crossroads of trade and culture, often caught between the shifting borders of European powers. The name itself is derived from the Latin verb for to live, which suggests that the original bearers may have been associated with local agricultural communities or individuals known for their vitality. As the family established themselves in the Flemish landscape, they likely integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes that defined the region’s economy. By settling in Flanders during this era, the Vivere family became part of a resilient population that navigated the complex social and political changes of the Low Countries.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 au chev. d'azur, acc. en chef de deux roses de gu., barbées de sin., et en p. d'une hure de sanglier de sa., défendue d'arg., languée de gu. C.: un lion de sa., arm., lamp. et cour. d'or.”
BelgiumGand, c. 1737
Where the Vivere Arms Were Recorded
Gand
Map of Belgium showing where the Vivere arms are recorded
The Vivere arms were recorded in Gand, c. 1737.
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 France when the Vivere 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 Vivere Family in Belgium
The history of the Vivere family in Belgium is rooted in the fertile lands of the Brabant region, where records confirm their presence as early as 1737. During the eighteenth century, Brabant was a hub of agricultural and commercial activity under the rule of the Austrian Netherlands. Families like the Viveres often lived in small rural communities where they contributed to the local economy through farming or skilled trade. As the name suggests a connection to the Latin word for living, it is likely that early family members were known for their industrious nature and their ability to thrive within the changing social landscape of the Low Countries. Over the decades, the family became deeply integrated into the local parish life, moving through the generations as part of the backbone of the Belgian countryside. Their survival and growth during this period reflect the broader story of families who helped shape the identity of the Brabant province before the industrial shifts of the nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
vivere
A Latin verb meaning to be alive or to live.
This name
VivereDerived from the Latin term for living, often associated with vitality or a lively disposition.
also spelled
Vyvere
Viver
Related arms
Abercrombiesimilar arms
Bardouinsimilar arms
Bourguignonsimilar arms
Cochranesimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief), Parish Registers of Flanders (Parochieregisters)
Pirenne, Henri, Histoire de Belgique, 1902
Vandermaesen, Maurice, Geschiedenis van de Vlaamse stammen, 1985
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
