Nobility and directory

Nobility of Belgium

History and Register of the Nobility of Belgium

Jurisdiction: Belgium
Entry type: directory
Editorial status: Imported — unreviewed

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Nobility of the World

Volume VIII – Belgium

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The History and Register of the Nobility of Belgium

In the Kingdom of Belgium there are at the moment approximately 1300 noble families. Some 20.000 individuals are titled. The noble lineage of only ca. 400 families dates back to the 17th century. As Belgium is a democraticconstitutional monarchy there are no legal privileges attached to bearing a noble title or to being a member of the aristocracy. Most noble surnames have the particle ‘de’ (French for of/from) or the Dutch ‘van’ as a prefix.

The Belgian nobility is known to be mostly Roman Catholic, conservative, and royalist. Living in a bilingual(Dutch/French) country with a majority of Dutch-speaking people, their mother tongue is mostly French although many are also fluent in Dutch and other languages. Many of the older families still own (and reside in) importantCastles or country houses. (see: Castles in Belgium) Most noble people in Belgium still clearly belong to the elite. They sometimes own and manage companies, or have leading positions in business, banking, diplomacy, NGOs etc.

Belgium is one of the few monarchies in the world where noble titles are still (annually) granted by the King of the Belgians. (Grant of Nobility). Many Belgian citizens meritorious in business, politics, science, arts, sport etc. received a title. Amongst others are the entrepreneur Baron Paul Janssen, the astronaut Viscount Dirk Frimout, the chemist Viscount Ilya Prigogine and the cyclist Baron Eddy Merckx.

List by Seniority of The Nobility of Belgium

The Nobility of X century

Belgium (de) 976

The Nobility of XI century

Limburg Stirum (de) 1079

The Nobility of XII century

Online (de) 1125
Arenberg (d ‘) (issue of Row) 1125
Lalang (de) 1133
Haveskercke (de) 1137
Beauffort (de) 1186

The Nobility of XIII century

Herbais Thun (d ‘) 1202
Polain Waroux of (the) 1208
Corswarem (de) 1213
Loon-Corswarem (de), derived from Corswarem 1213
Hamayde (La) or Colombo (La) 1214
Jamblinne de Meux (de) 1218
Arschot Schoonhoven (d ‘) 1226
Noot d’Assche (van der) 1232
Trazegnies of Itter (to) from the Hamal 1243
Briey (de) 1248
Merode (de) 1263
Houtart 1283
Rommerswael of Gracht (van der) 1285
Van Zuylen Nyevelt (van) 1285
Burch (van der) 1286
Lannoy (de) 1290
Tichelen (Van) 1293
Furstenberg (de) 1295

The Nobility of XIV century

Liedekerke (de) 1301
Breydel of Groeninghe 1303 (See: Jan Breydel)
Haughty 1312
Oldeneel tot Oldenzeel (van) 1315
Hertefelt (OF) 1317
Renesse (de) 1318
Waha Baillonville (de) 1320
Hamme (Van) 1321
Hemricourt Grunne of (de) 1323
Voorst tot Voorst (van) 1327
Oultremont (d ‘) 1330
Cabliau 1330
Broich (de) 1332
Chastel of Howarderie (du) 1336
Libbrecht 1343
Woelmont (de) 1344
Lichtervelde (de) 1347
Werve (van de) 1349
Theux of Meylandt and Montjardin (de) 1351
Thomson 1351
Hövell tot Westerflier (van) 1352
Schietere (de) 1352
Acker (van) 1355
Brabant (de) 1368
Crombrugghe (de) 1369
Poucques (de) 1372
Wavrin Villers at Tertre (de) 1376
Anrys 1377
Lemercier 1378
Oury 1378
Xheneumont 1378
Borman (de) 1380
Faille (della) 1383 (See: Pierre della Faille, Jean-Charles della Faille)
Goussencourt (de) 1383
Lerberghe (van) 1383
Schaetzen (de) 1383
Séjournet of Rameignies (de) 1384
Kethulle Ryhove of (the) 1386
Herlenvaux 1387
Robiano (de) 1387
Douxchamps 1388
Creeft (de) 1391
Hennezel (d ‘) 1392
Cock (De) 1396
Grisar 1396
Grisard de la Rochette 1396
Bailly Tilleghem (The) 1397
Dugardyn 1398
Vicq of Cumptich (de) 1399

The Nobility of XV century

Park Locmaria (du) 1406
Lobkowicz (de) 1409
Kemnade (van der) 1411 (Netherlands)
Diesbach Belleroche (de) 1416
Gaiffier (de) 1421
Bellefroid (de) 1428
Giey (de) 1428
Muyser Lantwyck (de) 1438
t’Kint of Roodenbeke 1464 (See: Jacques-Dominique t’Kint)
Snoy 1446 (see: Jean-Charles Snoy and Oppuers, Therese Snoy and Oppuers)
Wasseige (de) 1473
Ursel (d ‘) 1480
Linden of Hooghvorst (van der) 1483
Hennin of Boussu Walcourt (de) 1484
Lovinfosse (de) 1494
Posch (from) 1500

The Nobility of XVI century

Iweins 1509 (from which the branches of Iweins Eeckhoutte and Iweins of Wavrans)
Waesberghe (van) 1524
Riquet de Caraman (of) 1527
Piers Raveschoot 1527
Potesta (of) 1530
Beeckmans Meerbeeck-West (1541)
Delbeke 1544 (See: Augustus Delbeke and Francis Delbeke)
Scheppers of Bergstein (1551)
Coppieters (1557)
Borcht (Vander) 1561
Walque (from) and Dewalque 1561 (See: Bernard de Walque)
Schreiber 1566
Bethune (of) 1574 (See: Jean-Baptiste Bethune)
Frésart (of) 1574 (See Annex Coart : Parentage Frésart)
Benoist (de) / de Benoist Gentissart (of) 1576
Huwart 1579
Duve (de) 1580 (See: Pascal de Duve and Christian de Duve)
Haan (of) 1584
Serclaes (T ‘) 1584 (See: Emile de Tserclaes of Wommersom)
Berg (van den)1587
Clement de Saint-Marcq (the) 1588
Lindemans 1588
Meeûs (of) 1588
Hoobrouck d’Aspremont (van) 1589
Paige (The) 1590
Faverau (of) 1591 (See: Paul Favereau)
Gendebien 1592
Sauvage (de) – Wild Vercour (of) 1594
Lenoir 1597
Zuylen (van) 1597

The Nobility of XVII century

Cleenewerck Crayencour of 1601 (See: Marguerite Yourcenar)
Marcke Lummen (van) 1608
Volxem (Van) 1608
Reus (De), 1612
Braconier (of) 1613
Merris (Van) 1613
Hardy de Beaulieu (the) 1630 (see: Adolphe Hardy de Beaulieu)
Ieteren (D ‘) 1630
Fontainas 1632
Gerard (Corroy-le-Grand) 1635 (See: Jo Gerard)
Goethals (1639)
Verhaegen 1640 (See: Théodore Verhaegen)
Comeliau 1641
Keghel (de) 1644
Terlinden 1645
Orts 1647
Nothomb 1649
Dievoet (Van) 1650
Poot-Baudier 1651 (See: Poot)
Brel 1654 (see: Jacques Brel and Bruno Brel)
Serruys 1654
Poelaert 1657 (See: Joseph Poelaert and Victor Poelaert)
Picqué 1660 (See: Charles Picqué).
Coart 1661
Anspach 1664 (See: Jules Anspach)
Burbure of Wezembeek 1668
Goblet d’Alviella 1668
Leclercq 1668 (Jupille, Herve)
Fallon 1669 (See: Isidore Fallon)
Maus 1669 (See: Octave Maus)
Pety Thozée 1671
Wittouck 1675 (See: William Wittouck)
Empain 1681
Smoesa 1684
Janssen 1687
Boël
Dubois (Lives-sur-Meuse) 1688
Vandievoet 1690 (See: Jules Vandievoet and Jacques Vandievoet)
Gottal (of) 1694
Henry Hassonville 1695 (see: Ghislain-Joseph Henry)
Vanrysselberghe 1695
Vallée Poussin (of) 1696

The Nobility XVIII century

Faider 1708 (See: Charles Faider)
Rittweger Moor 1728 (See: Stephanie Rittweger Moor)
Soubre 1728
Voortman 1745
William 1749 (See: William Julius)
Jacques (Diksmuidse) 1752 (See: Jules Marie Alphonse Jacques de Diksmuide)
Lacoste 1759
Locht (of) 1760
Janlet 1760
Oldenhove of Guertechin 1765
Lagasse – Lagasse de Locht 1772
Spaak 1772
Bronne 1776 (See: Carlo Bronne)
Davignon 1780
Guinotte 1780
Linard of Guertechin 1780
Roberts-Jones 1783 (See: Philippe Roberts-Jones)
Greiner 1789
Hermanns 1798
Dievoet (Baron and Jonkheer Van) 1799 (See: Families Vandievoet (Brabant)
der Hoeven (Van) —Vanderhoeven 1799

Princely Houses of Belgium

(Prince in French/ Prins in Dutch The title of Prince is the highest in rank. The title is not granted to new nobles. Members of the families listed below have the right to call themselves ‘Prince’ or ‘Princess’ in combination with their family name. Most families have a very old lineage (typically before the 15th century) and their ancestors often bore other titles before they obtained the highest rank. They are received in audience by the King in the ‘Salon Bleu’ of the Royal Palace of Belgium and subsequently are called ‘Noblesse du Salon Bleu’ (Nobles of the Blue Room). Some families obtained and still hold titles in other countries.

de Habsburg-Lorraine, Archduke Rudolf of Austria & his male line descendants were incorporated into Belgian nobility as HSH Prince de Habsburg-Lorraine in 1978
de Ligne, prince since 1601.
de Mérode, prince since 1930 (but counts of the Holy Empire before, Heads of the house bore the titles Marquess of Westerlo since 1626 and Prince of Rubempré and Everberg since the 18th century. The title of Prince of Grimbergen was inherited after the death of Maria-Josepha d’Oignies-Mastain in 1842.
de Riquet (Prince de Chimay et de Caraman)
d’Arenberg
de Croÿ
de Lobkowicz. Noble family of Czech origin. Their princely title was recognized in Belgium after they fled from communist Czechoslovakia.
Béthune-Hesdigneul
Looz-Corswarem: prince 1825

Members of the Royal family bear the title ‘Prince of Belgium’. Sometimes a specific dynastic title is granted. For example the Crown Prince is traditionally granted the title of Duke of Brabant (Duc de Brabant/Hertog van Brabant).

Note:

Stéphanie zu Windisch-Graetz (1909-2005) belonged to the Belgian Nobility.
Carl Bernadotte, Duke of Ostergotland, (1911-2003) brother of Queen Astrid of the Belgians. When Prince Carl married Countess Elsa von Rosen on July 6, 1937 at Kvillinge, Sweden, he had to relinquish his succession rights to the Swedish throne and his royal titles. His brother-in-law King Leopold III of Belgium conferred upon him the title Prince Bernadotte in the Belgian nobility on the same date, with the right to the title of Count or Countess for his male-line descendants.
King Albert II was called Prince of Liège (Prince de Liège / Prins van Luik) before his accession to the throne.
Some noble families with foreign origins, such as the Shin de Pyeongsan family (in Korea, the Pyeongsan Shin clan), are princely in nature but are not official princely houses of Belgium.

Ducal Houses of Belgium

Members of the following houses bear the title of Duke (Duc in French, Hertog in Dutch). It’s the second highest title in rank and was never granted by the Kingdom of Belgium. The origin of the titles thus goes back to an earlier date. Higher than prince in some families (Arenberg, Croy, Ursel, Beaufort-Spontin, Looz-Corswarem)

de Croÿ-Solre
de Looz-Corswarem and de Corswarem-Looz
de Beaufort-Spontin
d’Arenberg
d’Ursel

Also, the dynastic title Duke of Brabant is used by the Crown Prince. At this moment the Belgian Crown Prince Philip is Duke of Brabant.

Margraval Houses of Belgium

Members of 11 families bear the title of Marquess.

de Beauffort – (only the head of the house, the other are count/countess)
Clerix
de Mérode (Marquess of Westerlo, created in 1626 by king Philip IV of Spain only the head of the house in addition to the title of Prince)
de Trazegnies
du Parc Locmaria – (only the head of the house, the other are count/countess)
Imperiali des Princes de Francavilla
de Radiguès de Chenneviere
Ruffo de Bonneval de la Fare
van der Noot (Marquess of Assche)
d’Yve – (only the head of the house, the other are count/countess)
van Tongerloo d’Effaye

Counts of Belgium

Count is the highest-ranked title still granted by the Belgian King. There are roughly 90 families in Belgium whose members bear the title of Count or Countess:

Cornet d’Elzius du Chenoy
Cornet de Ways Ruart
d’Alcantara di Quirieu
d’Ansembourg
d’Arschot Schoonhoven
d’Aspremont Lynden
de Baillet-Latour
de Beauffort
du Bois d’Aische
de Borchgrave d’Altena
de Bousies Borluut
de Briey
de Brouchoven de Bergeyck
- de Brouchoven de Bergeyck de Namur d’Elzée
de Broqueville
de Bury et de Bocarmé (since 1750, see Henry Robert Visart de Bury et de Bocarmé)
d’Hanins de Moerkerke
de Hemptinne, (since 1886)
de Kerchove de Denterghem
de Lalaing
de Lannoy
de Launois
de Lichtervelde
de Limburg Stirum
de Marnix de Sainte Aldegonde Currently the 7th count.
de Meeus d’Argenteuil
de Menton du Plessis
de Mercy-Argenteau-d’Ochain
de Norman et d’Audenhove
d’Oultremont de Duras
d’Oultremont de Wégimont et de Warfusé
de Pret Roose de Calesberg (head of the family is Count, the others are Écuyer)
de Ramaix
de Renesse
de Robiano
de t’Serclaes de Wommersom
de Smet de Naeyer – V
d’Udekem d’Acoz
du Chastel de la Howarderie
Harmel, granted in 1991 (hereditary title)
Forrier de Savoye
Goblet d’Alviella
Goethals de Mude de Nieuwland
le Grelle
Lehon
Lippens
t’Kint de Roodenbeke
O’Kelly de Galway
van der Burch
van der Stegen de Putte
van der Stegen de Schrieck
van der Straten-Ponthoz
van de Werve de Vorselaar (head of the family is Count, the others are ‘Jonkheer’, except for ‘Baron van de Werve de Schilde’ en ‘viscount van de Werve d’Immerseel’.)
Woeste

The titles Count of Hainault and Count of Flanders are used as dynastic titles for members of the Royal Family.

Viscounts of Belgium

There are roughly 45 families in Belgium whose members bear the title of viscounts in Belgium (Vicomte in French/Burggraaf in Dutch). It is a one of the highest titles granted by the King.

de Baré de Comogne
de Biolley
du Bus de Warnaffe
Davignon
Eyskens, since 1973 (hereditary title)
Frimout
Jolly
de Jonghe d’Ardoye
Nachtegaele
de Lantsheere
Poullet
Prigogine
Simonis
de Spoelberch
Terlinden
Vilain XIIII
van de Werve d’Immerseel
de Winne

Barons of Belgium

More than 300 individuals bear the title of Baron or Baroness. This title is often granted by the King. Members of the following families bear the title.

Allard
d’Anethan
de Beco
de Bethune
Beyens
du Bois de Nevele
Bonaert
de Bakker
de Bonhomme
de Bonvoisin
de Borrekens
de Brouwer
van den Branden de Reeth
van der Bruggen
van Caloen
de Cartier d’Yves
Clerix
Cogels
de Coninck
Coppens d’Eeckenbrugge
de Crombrugghe de Picquendaele, de Crombrugghe de Schipsdaele, de Crombrugghe de Looringhe
Cardon de Lichtbuer
Descantons de Montblanc
van Dievoet
van Eyll
de Coninck de Merckem
de Favereau
de Fierlant
de Herckenrode, since 1846
d’Huart
Delberke
Dillemans
Donny
van Eetvelde
Evain
Fallon
Fredericq
Goethals
Goffinet
Greindl
Groothaert
Guillaume
Holvoet
Houtart
van Houtte
Iweins de Wavrans
Jacobs
de Jamblinne de Meux
Janssen
Jolly
de Kerchove
Kervyn d’Oud Mooreghem, Kervyn de Volkaersbeke, and Kervyn de Lettenhove
Kronacker
Lambermont, since 1863
Liebaert
de Martial de Frandeux
de Meester de Ravenstein
Merckx
Minnebo
Muijsson
de Moreau
Moyersoen
Nicaise
Nicolet
Nothomb
Orban de Xivry
de Pitteurs Hiegaerts
de Potesta, de Potesta de Waleffe
Prisse
Pycke, Pycke de Peteghem and Pycke de Ten Aerde
de Radzitzky d’Ostrowick
de Rennette de Villers perwin
Ruzette
de Sadeleers
de Sélys Longchamps
de Spot
van der Smissen
Snoy
de Streel
Surlet de Chokier
Surmont de Courtrécy
Surmont de Volsberghe
Surmont ter Straeten
Terlinden (also Viscounts)
t’ Kint de Roodenbeke
Theodore (Baron de Calwaert)
Tibbaut
de Tornaco
de Villenfagne de Vogelsanck
de Vinck de Winnezeele
de Vriere
van der (vander) Kemnade
Vaxelaire
Wahis
van de Werve de Schilde
Woot de Trixhe
Whenttnall
de Wykerslooth de Rooyensteyn
van Zuylen de Gaesebeke

Knights of Belgium

In Belgium there are roughly 200 knights (Chevalier in French / Ridder in Dutch). There is no female equivalent for the title; when a woman is ‘knighted’ she usually receives the (higher) title of ‘Baroness’.

de Gaesebeke
de Ghellinck
Huyghens
du Mortier
Lannoo
Raes
Rosseeuw
de Sauvage
de Schaetzen
de Spot
de Theux de Meylandt et Montjardin
de Wouters d’Oplinter
Dirix
le Clément de Saint-Marcq
Van der Eecken
van Havre

Noble families without a Title

Nobles without a title can call themselves Écuyer (French for shield bearer or squire) or Jonkheer (Dutch, literally meaning ‘Young Lord’). The female equivalent of Jonkheer is Jonkvrouw. Écuyer however has no female equivalent. The titles Jonkheer and Jonkvrouw are roughly equivalent in meaning to “Sir” or “Dame”, but not a common translation. Écuyer is equivalent to “esquire” except that the latter may be used for any Englishman.

There are thousands of untitled noble families in Belgium. These noble families lack an official Belgian family title for various reasons. The most common reason is that they were Écuyer, as described above, and were therefore noble only through their close link with the titled aristocracy. Another common reason is that some titles could only be taken over by a certain number of family members (e.g. the eldest), so that the rest of the family became untitled, though essentially still made part of the Belgian nobility. A third reason is that some aristocrats voluntarily relinquished their title in order to perform commercial activities, as described above.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of untitled noble families in Belgium:

Agie de Selsaeten
Anciaux Henry de Faveaux
Anne de Molina
Annez de Taboada
André-Dumont
Arrazola de Oñate
Bauchau
Beaucarne d’Eenaeme
Beeckmans de West-Meerbeeck
du Bois de Vroylande
Cardon de Lichtbuer
Carton de Tournay
Claeys Boüüaert (Claeys Boùùaert)
Cogels
Coget
de Coninck
d’Andrimont
de Barsy
de Bauer
van Dievoet
de Francquen
de la Croix d’Ogimont
de La Hamayde & de La Hamaide
de Roye van Wichen ( de Roye de Wichen)
de Smet de Naeyer
de Meester (de Meester de Ravestein, de Meester de Betzenbroeck, de Meester de Heyndonck)
de Wautier
Demeure de Lespaul
Duquesne Wathelet de la Vinelle
van der Essen
Geelhand de Merxem
Gilliot
Guyot de Mishaegen
Hendrickx van den Bosch
Janssen
t’Kint de Roodebeke
Lantonnois van Rode
Leman
Matthieu de Wynendale, sinds 1957
Maus de Rolley
Mertens de Wilmars
Monnoyer de Galland de Carnières
Moretus Plantin de Bouchout
Nolf
Peltzer
Plissart de Brandignies
van der Straten-Ponthoz
Serné
Spruyt
Terlinden
Thibaut de Maisières
Uyttenhove
van Ackere
Vandive
van den Hecke de Lembeke
Van der Meersch
van Neste
van Outryve d’Ydewalle
van Wassenhove
Wittouck

Noble Titled Families of Belgium t he Holders of The Title of Duke

d’Arenberg
Beaufort-Spontin
Brabant (attributed to the crown prince of the royal family of Belgium)
de Croy
of Loon-Corswarem
d’Ursel

Holders of The Title of Prince

d’Arenberg

Chimay and Caraman
de Croy
of Croy-Rœulx
of Croy-Solre
Line
Line-Arenberg
Line of Tremoi’lle
Lobkowicz
de Merode
de Merode-Westerloo

Holders of The Title of Marquis

of Beauffort
of ENNETIERES
Imperial Princes of Francavilla Italy
de Laage the Rocheterie France
van der Noot, Marquis of Assche
Park Locmaria France
Radigues of Saint Guédal of Chenneviere France
Ruffo de Bonneval de La Fare des Comtes de Sinopoli Calabria Italy
Trazegnies (of Itter)
de Wavrin
Yve of Bavay
jacobs Corbeck
Flamenca

Holders of The Title of Count

Alcantara of Querrieu
Andelot
Ansembourg
Armand
of Arschot of Schoonhoven
Arteta for Neufmoustier
d’Aspremont Lynden
d’Aspremont Lynden Maillen
d’Aspremont Lynden of Maillen
of Assche
Baillet-Latour
the bar Erquelinnes
of Beauffort
Beaumont of Bonnière
Bethune Hesdigneul
Boël
Wood of Aische
Bousies
Bousies Borluut
de Borchgrave Altena
de Borchgrave Altena Merghelynck
Briey
of Broqueville
of Brouchoven of Bergeyck
of Bryas
van der Burch
de Buisseret of Blarenghien
de Buisseret-Steenbecque of Blarenghien
Carton de Wiart
Deer of Fountain Trust
of Changy
Chastel of the Howarderie
Cornet d’Elzius
Cornet d’Elzius of Peissant
Of the cornet Elzius Chenoy
Of the cornet Elzius Chenoy Wal
Cornet de Grez of Elzius
Cornet de Ways-Ruart
of Enffans of Avernas
Errembault of DUDZEELE
the Fault Leverghem
Francqui
of Germiny France
Goblet d’Alviella
Goethals of Mude Nieuwland
of Gourcy Serainchamps
Greindl
of Hanina Moerkerke
Harmel
de Hemptinne
of Hemricourt of Grunne
of Hespel
de Jonghe of Ardoye
de Kerchove de Denterghem
Kervyn of Meerendré
‘t Kint de Roodenbeke
de Laage de Bellefaye
Lair
Lalaing
of Laubespin
le Grelle
de Lannoy
of Launoit
Lehon
de Lesseps
Lichtervelde
Liedekerke
Liedekerke Beaufort
Limburg Stirum
Lippens
of Loon-Corswarem
Marnix de Sainte Aldegonde
Marotte of de Montigny
Mean of Beaurieux
van der Meer Cruyshauten
Meeûs of Argenteuil
Meeûs of Argenteuil to Trannoy
Moens de Fernig
du Monceau
du Monceau de Bergendal
by Montblanc France
Montfort
of Montlivault France
of Nicolaÿ France
van der Noot
van der Noot d’Assche
van der Noot de Duras
Norman and Audenhove
of Oultremont
Oultremont of Duras
of Oultremont of Wégimont and Warfusée
Park Locmaria France
from No France
of Perthuis
de Pret Roose de Calesberg
Renesse
of Ribaucourt
of Robiano
of Romrée
of Romrée of Vichenet
Ruffo de Bonneval de La Fare des Comtes de Sinopoli Calabria Italy
de Sauvage
de Selys Longchamps
Snoy and Oppuers
van den Steen Jehay
van der Stegen de Putte
van der Stegen of Schrieck
van der Straten-ponthoz
of T’Serclaes
of T’Serclaes of Wommersom
, Duchess of Brabant
Ullens de Schooten Whettnall
d’Ursel
d’Ursel Bousies
d’Ursel and Hoboken
de Villegas de Saint-Pierre Jette
Visart of Bocarmé
Flanders (attributed to the royal family of Belgium)
van de Werve of Vorsselaar
Woeste
of Yve
Yve of Bavay

Holders of The Title of Viscount

Bare of Comogne
Berryer
Besancenot
of Beughem of Houtem
of Biolley
Bus Warnaffe
Cossée of Maulde
Davignon
Eyskens
Dumon
de Duve
della Faille to Waerloos
of Gaiffier of Emeville
of Ghellinck Vaernewijck
the Hardy de Beaulieu
of Harlez of Deulin
Hayoit of Termicourt
d’Hendecourt
Herbes de Thun and Cambrai
Jolly
de Jonghe
de Jonghe of Ardoye
de Jonghe of Ardoye of Erp
of Lantsheere
Monge of Franeau
Nachtegaele

Poullet
Preud’homme of Hailly of Nieuport
De Roest d’Alkemade
of Schrynmakers of Dormael
Simonis
of Spoelberch
Vilain XIV
van de Vyvere
van de Werve of Immerseel
van Zeeland

Holders of The Title of Baron

van Ackere
van Aerssen Beijeren van Voshol
of Aligny
Allard
Ancion
of Anethan
Ansiaux
de Bakker
Bassompierre
de Beco
Beeckman of Vieusart
Bekaert
van den Bergh
Berghmans
Bernard de Fauconval of Deukem
Bethune
Bethune-Sully
Beyens
Bie of Westvoorde
of Billeh of Valensart
of Blanckart
of Blommaert of Soye
Boels
van den Bogaerde van ter Brugge
Bois de Nevele
Bonaert
Bonaert the Roche-Marchiennes
Bonhomme
of Bonvoisin
de Borchgrave
de Borman
of Borrekens
Boutier of Catus
Bracht
van den Branden de Reeth
Brouwer
de Broux
Browne
van der Bruggen
Buffin of Chosal
Buysse
Callataÿ
van Caloen
van Caloen of Basseghem
Carbonnières of Saint Brice
Cartier Marchienne
Cartier Yves
Carton de Tournai
Caters to
van Caubergh
of Chestret of Haneffe
Clerix
Cogels
de Coninck of Merckem
de Cooman of Herlinckhove
of Copis
Coppe
Coppens of Eeckenbrugge
of the Court
of Coppin of Grinchamps
Crawhez
de Crombrugghe
de Crombrugghe of Looringhe
of Crombrugge of Picquendaele
de Crombrugghe of Schipsdaele
Cumont
Daneels of Attenrode
Delbeke
Dehennin
Delvaux of Fenffe
Descantons of Montblanc France
Dessain
Didisheim
Van Diest
van Dievoet (See: Families Vandievoet (Brabant))
Dieudonne of Corbeck over Loo
Dillemans
Donnet
Donny
of Dorlodot
Drion of Chapois
Dumont Chassart
van Duffel
van Eetveld
van der Elst
Englebert
Ernst Bunswyck
of ERP and Holt Baarlo
Evain
van Eyll
della Faille to Huysse
Failly
Fallon
of Favereau of Jeneret
of Fierlant
Fierlant of Dormer
Forger
Furnace Cruquenbourg
Furnace Cruquenbourg of Vichte
Fredericq
of Gaiffier of Hestroy
Gendebien Gericke of Hewynen
Gerlache
de Gerlache
of Giey
Gillès of Pélichy
Goethals
Goffinet
van der Gracht of Rommerswael
Grand Ry
de Greef
Greindl
Groothaert
de Gruben
William
van Gysel
van Gysel de Meise
of Haneffe
of Harscamp
of Haulleville
Haus
van Havre
of Herckenrode
Hennin of Boussu Walcourt
Heusch the Zangrye
van Hoobrouck d’Aspremont
of Hoogvorst
Holvoet
Houtart
Van Houtte
van tot Hövell Westervlier in Wezeveld
d’Huart
Iweins of Wavrans
Jacobs
Jacques Diksmuidse
Jacquier of Dew
Janssen
Janssens
Janssens de Bisthoven
of Jamblinne de Meux
van Jever
Jolly
Jooris
de Keersmaeker
de Kerckhove of Borluut
de Kerchove of Exaerde
de Kerchove of Ousselghem
van de Kerchove of Hallebast
Kervyn of Lettenhove
Kervyn of Meerendré
Kervyn of Volkaersbeke
Kervyn Oud Mooreghem
the Kethulle of Ryhove
‘t Kint de Roodenbeke
KRONACKER
de Laage de Bellefaye
Lambert
Lambermont
Lamfalussy
van Lamsweerde
de Lannoy
La Vallée Poussin
Lechat
Lejeune of Schiervel
Lepage
Lequime
Leuze of Bourbecq
of Lhoneux
Liebaert
of Lierneux Presles
of Limal
Limnander of Nieuwenhove
van der Linden of Hooghvorst
of Locquenghien (Baron Melsbroeck or Pamela)
of Loën of Enscedé
of Lhoneux
van Loo
puffin
Maelcamp of Opstaele
Mayor of Warzée Hermalle
of Maleingreau of HEMBISE
del Marmol
de Meester
de Meester of Betzenbroeck
de Meester de Ravenstein
Mélot
de Menten de Horne
Merlin
Mertens de Wilmars
of Mévius
Meyers
Michotte van den Berck
Minnebo
of Moffarts
of Moffarts of Houchenée
Mols
by Montblanc
Montpellier at Vedrin
Moreau Andoy
Moreau de Melen
La Motte Baraffe
Moyersoen
Muijsson
Nagelmackers
Nerincx
Neve de Roden
Nicaise
Nicolet
Nothomb
Van Oldeneel tot Oldenzeel
of the Olmen Poederlé
Orban Xivry
Osy of Zegwaart
Otreppe of Bouvet
van Outryve of Ydewalle
of Overschie of Neeryssche
Paelinck
Pangaert of Ordorp
PAPEIANS of MORCHOVEN
Paternotte of VAILLEE
Paulus du Chatelet
Pecsteen
of Peellaert
Peers of Nieuwburgh
Peñarada of Franchimont
Peterbroeck
Pirmez
Pitteurs of Büdingen
of Pitteurs Hiegaerts
Poncelet
Popelaire of terloo
de Posch
of Posson
of Posson of Wanfercée
Poswick
Poswick Crawhez
Potesta of Waleffe
Powis of TENBOSSCHE
Prisse
Powerful Bayens
van de Put
Pycke
Pycke of Peteghem
Pycke Ten Aerde
of Radiguès of Chenneviere France
of Radzitzky of Ostrowicka
of Rahier
Remion
Rennette of Villers Perwin
van der Rest
Richard
Richard de Foucaud
van Rijswijck
Rittweger Moor
Roberti Winghe
De Roest d’Alkemade
Rolin
Rolin Jaequemyns
de Pret Roose de Calesberg
Dew
Rosen of Borgharen
Rossius of the People
Rotsart of Hertaing
Roy’s Blicquy
Royer de Dour of Fraula
Ruzette
of Ryckel
Ryelandt
of Sadeleer
of Schaetzen
of Schaetzen of Schaetzenhoff
of Schorlemer
Scoville
de Selys Longchamps
Sweeney
Simonis
Siraut
van der Smissen
Snoy
Snoy and Oppuers
Solvyns
Speth
Stein of Aletenstein
STIENON du Pré
van der Straten Waillet
de Streel
de Strycker
Strijdonk van de Burkel
Surlet Chokier
Surmont Coutrécy
Surmont Volsberghe
Surmont ter Straeten
Tahon de la Motte
Tayart of Borms
Terlinden
of Terschueren
of Terwagne
Theodore (Baron of Calwaert)
Thibaut de Boesinghe
Thienpont
de Their
of Thysebaert
TIBBAUT
of Tilesse
of Tornaco
of Traux of Wardin
of Troostembergh
Turckheim
, Duchess of Brabant
Ullens de Schooten
Ullens de Schooten Whetnall
Val d’Epremesnil
of Vaucleroy
Vanneste
Van Overstraeten
Vaxelaire
Velge
Verhaegen
Verhaege from Nayer
Vicq of Cumptich
of Villenfagne of Sorinnes
of Villenfagne Vogelsanck
de Vinck
de Vinck of Winnezeele
Vinçotte
Viron
du Vivier
of Vrière
from Waha to Fronville
Wahis
Wal Anthisnes of
Wal Baronville of
Warnant
Wauters
van de Werve of Schilde
Whenttnall
Wigny
Witte de Haelen
of Woelmont
of Woelmont of Brumagne
Woitrin
Wolters
Woot for Jannaeus
Woot for Trixhe
of Wouters Oplinter
of Wykerslooth of Rooyensteyn
van Zeeland
Zurstrassen
van Zuylen
van Zuylen of Gaesebeke
van Zuylen van Nyevelt

The Holders of The Title of Knight

Annez de Taboada
de Bandt
Bauchau
Beer de Laer
Behaghel de Bueren
Andre Berger
van den Bergh
van Lerberghe of Marcke
Biebuyck
bevel of Hauteville
Bodart
Braas
of Brabandere
Brassine of Buissière
Brialmont
Bribosia
of Brogniez
of Burbure of Wesembeek
Cartuyvels
of Chestret of Haneffe
Clement Cléty
Clement of Saint-Marcq
Coppieters de ter Zaele
of Loon-Corswarem
Crane of Heysselaer
of Crayencour
of Creeft
of Donnéa of Hamoir
Leyniers
van Outryve of Ydewalle

The Holders of The Title of Squire

Beeckmans of West Meerbeeck
Berger
of Braconier
of Clippele
Coart
Henry Frahan
d’Hoop
of Hoop Synghem
Jacobs
Jacobs van Merlen
Nolf
De Smet
de Smet of Naeyer
de Smet of Olbecke
de Walque
Fri Wassenhove
Woronoff
van Zuylen

Foreign Noble Families Residing in Belgium

In addition to the families mentioned above, a number of noble families originated from outside Belgium, but have since obtained Belgian nationality after residing for a long time (sometimes for many generations) in Belgium. Most of these families have come from neighbouring European monarchies (France, Holland, Germany) at various stages of history. These have usually (but not always) asked for equivalent nobility titles within the Kingdom of Belgium, which were typically granted.

A number of noble families residing in Belgium originate beyond the current European Union borders (Russia) or even outside Europe Korea, Japan. Many of these families used to possess nobility titles in their country of origin, which have not always been converted into official Belgian nobility titles. In some cases, some families did not want a Belgian title because they hoped their stay in Belgium would be only temporary. This was the case for many Russian nobles, who were exiled after the October Revolution.

In other cases, some families did not make the request for conversion either by pride or because the cultural differences make such conversions less obvious. One such example is the Sagangong branch of the KoreanPyeongsan Shin clan family, which has resided in Belgium since 1974. The Pyeongsan Shin Korean family title is clearly of princely nature, which makes such a request more difficult to process. As described above, only titles of count and below are now typically granted in Belgium.

Despite being of foreign origins, the above noble families belong fully to the Belgian elite and many are well integrated into the society. Many of these families have been in Belgium for so long, intermarrying with Belgian nobility, that they are more Belgian than foreign in bloog (e.g. de Lobkowicz, de Radiguès de Chenneviere, Arrazola de Oñate). Moreover, the family names have often been frenchified by adding particles such as de (e.g. the Pyeongsan Shin clan is also referred to as Shin de Pyeongsan).

References

Eupedia : Belgian Nobility

Footnotes

Official website of the house of Arenberg
Ducal and princely families of Belgium: Beaufort-Spontin, Eupedia.com, Retrieved 20 December 2009
[M. Siegenbeek, “Levensbericht van P.C.G. baron de Coninck”, in: Handelingen van de Maatschappij der Nederlandse Letterkunde, 1827]
Belgium Guide – Belgian nobility (Noblesse belge / Belgische Adel)

M. Siegenbeek, “Levensbericht van P.C.G. baron de Coninck”, in: Handelingen van de Maatschappij der Nederlandse Letterkunde, 1827