This Verheyden Coat of Arms was completed by a heraldic artist on June 11, 2009 from information that was researched in Reitstapp’s Armorial General, Belgium with Charles N. Verheyden, Temple, TX and Paul J. Verheyden, DeSoto, TX, Samson Institute of Heraldry, Northbrook, IL and Coat of Arms Store (www.4crests.com).

 

The Verheyden Coat of Arms graphic was completed by the Coat of Arms Store artists from hand-sketches and mark-ups by Paul J. Verheyden, the final dated May 18, 2009 after recovery from brain surgery in Jan. 2009.    It is described from 3 sources:

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• Original in Reitstapp’s Armorial General, Belgium.  Azure is base duck argent in chief a wheel or on a canton argent a rose gules.

• Gems of History.  The shield is blue.  The rim of the wheel is in gold.  The canton, top left corner, is white charged with a red rose.  The duck is white.  Found at www.gemsofhistory.com.

• Sanson.  “Azure in sinister chief Canton a Wheel Or and in base a Duckling argent beaked and membered gules on a dexter canton of the third a rose of the fourth”

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Azure – Blue

Represents the color of pure sky. Implies justice, humility, loyalty, and perseverance. Represents Heaven, the highest of all things created, the tribunal of God and the everlasting mansion of the blessed. Among the heavenly orbs, it is Jupiter. Among stones it is sapphire and among flowers, by the violet.

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Duck

Symbolizes nobility, strength and freedom. Person of many resources.

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Wheel

Symbolic of one who is faithful in spite of tortures and obstacles.

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Rose

Beauty, loyalty, grace.Alludes to good surrounded with evil (thorns), hope and joy, connection with the church.The Popes had a custom of presenting their favorites with flowers.The color is significant.The red rose refers to the English house of Lancaster; symbolizes the loyalty of the original bearer to the cause of that house.

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Head - Helmet

Denotes chieftain, reward of high merits, place of esteem, intended as mark of wisdom.It betokens a senator, counselor or chieftan.As the head, the chief part of a man.So the Chief should be the reward of such only those high merits that have procured them; chief places of esteem and love among men; intended as the particular mark of wisdom.

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Canton

Decoration above shield and helmet – green, lacy.Represents a shoulder knot, a badge of honor placed on the shoulder of a warrior; occupies one third of the area of the Chief.It is a badge of distinction conferred for service by an esquire, an attendant of a knight.

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Or – Gold, Yellow

Means gold of all metals, most brilliant and valuable.It exceeds all others in worth, prowess and virtue.It gives the bearer wisdom, riches and elevation of mind.Shows generosity.Compared to the sun among heavenly bodies, among precious tones to the topaz, among plants to the cypress tree.

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Gules - Red

From the Hebrew word, gulade or Arabic gula but mostly from French, guelule (the mouth of a wild beast), in allusion, it’s reeking with the blood of a slaughtered victim.  Gules is a royal color and has long been used as an apparel of majesty; warrior or martyr; military strength and magnanimity.  Denotes martial prowess, boldness, hardihood, valor, and magnanimity.  The most noble of all colors.  Assimilated to the planet Mars, to the ruby among stones, and among flowers, to the rose.

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Cross

Passion type; Faith, Christianity, service in the Crusades.The symbol of our Savior’s gift of salvation to the world.

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Green Hills

Behind duck.Denotes meaning of Verheyden Flemish (Belgian) name “From the Heather”:The Heather is rolling hills and green pastures.

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Fusils

(narrow lozengy) – diamond shapes, furs.Travel and labor; mark of dignity, constancy.

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Argent - White

Means silver.  Usually depicted in heraldic painting by white.  According to ancient authors, it implies in the bearer purity, innocence, chastity, truth, justice, and humility.  Among the celestial bodies, it is compared to the Moon.  Among precious stones, to the pearl, among plants, to the lily.