A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wettin family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3455 · Belgian, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. semé de trèfles d'or; à trois fermaux du même, 2 et 1, et au lambel d'azur en chef.”
BelgiumTournai, c. 1737
Where the Wettin Arms Were Recorded
Tournai
Map of Belgium showing where the Wettin arms are recorded
The Wettin arms were recorded in Tournai, 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 Belgium when the Wettin 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 Wettin Family in Belgium
The history of the Wettin family in Belgium begins with their documented presence in the city of Tournai by 1737. During this period, Tournai was a bustling center of trade and craftsmanship located in the Austrian Netherlands. Families like the Wettins often moved into these urban hubs to participate in the growing textile industry or to serve in local administrative roles. While the name is famously associated with royal houses in Germany, the branch that settled in Tournai likely integrated into the local merchant class. They lived through a time of significant political transition as the region shifted between various European powers. By establishing themselves in this historic city, the family became part of the social fabric of the Low Countries. Their life in Tournai reflects the broader movement of families across borders during the eighteenth century in search of new economic opportunities.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
ostrichWilling obedience and serious thought
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 de gu. à une autruche d'arg.; au 2 de gu., chapé-ployé d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: l'autruche, entre deux prob. coupées alt. d'arg. et de gu., ornées chacune dans son embouchure de trois plumes de paon au nat.”
TyrolTyrol, c. 1772
Where the Wettin Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Wettin arms are recorded
The Wettin arms were recorded in Tyrol, c. 1772.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried arms.
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.
Region
Tyrol
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Wettin Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Belgium when the Wettin arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Tyrol.
Origin & History of the Wettin Family in Austria
The history of the Wettin name in Austria is deeply connected to the movement of families across the Alpine regions during the eighteenth century. While the name is famously associated with a powerful royal dynasty in central Germany, its presence in Tyrol by 1772 suggests a branch of the family that had settled into the local social and economic life of the Austrian Empire. Records from this period indicate that members of the family were integrated into the mountain communities of Tyrol, where they likely engaged in trades or agricultural work typical of the region. This migration pattern reflects the broader movement of people across the Habsburg lands, as families sought new opportunities in the fertile valleys and growing towns of the Austrian territories. By establishing themselves in Tyrol, these early settlers helped root the name in a new cultural landscape, far from its original geographic origins, while maintaining the family identity through generations of local residency.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wetti
Derived from the Germanic word for forest or wood.
This name
WettinRefers to a person originating from the Wettin region or associated with the forest.
also spelled
Wettinn
Wetyin
Wettine
Wetin
Related arms
Heudons dit Wetinvariant spelling
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
Dumont, Georges-Henri, Histoire de la Belgique: des origines à nos jours, 1977
Pirenne, Henri, Histoire de Belgique, 1902
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
ostrichWilling obedience and serious thought
