Woumen

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of Belgium - Belgische Gemeentewapens / Armorial de Belgique

WOUMEN

Province : West-Vlaanderen
Incorporated into : 1976 Diksmuide

Official blazon

Eenen zilveren schild met een rood St-Andrieskruys.

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on December 19, 1842.

The arms are based on the arms shown for Woumen on a 17^th century map. The map actually showed the arms of the Van Praet family for Woumen, instead of the proper arms of the oldest Lords of Woumen. The arms of the latter are known from the 14^th century and showed the cross but with a bar over the cross. Why the bar was omitted on the map is not clear.

In the 15^th century the Lords of Woumen used the same combination, but now with a star in the center of the shield.

The arms in the Koffie Hag/Café Hag albums +/- 1930

Literature : Servais, 1955