Clervaux

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of Luxembourg

CLERVAUX

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on May 30, 1896.

The arms of Clervaux are derived from the arms of the Clervaux family, which descended from the Lords of Wiltz. The lords of Wiltz used a golden shield with a red chief. The Lords of Clervaux used the same design, but with three silver martlets (ducks without legs and beak) in the chief. These arms have always been used by the Lords and the city of Clervaux.

The above arms, however, show a different design. The arms most likely are based on a mistake. The original description mentions "merlettes" (martlets), but this is most likely misinterpreted as small "merles" (blackbirds). As black birds on a red chief are not allowed according the rule of tincture (no colour on colour) the colours of the main shield had to be exchanged.

The municipality uses the birds in silver and gold, see images below, as well as the historical arms.

The arms in the Coffee Hag albums +/- 1930	The arms on the local pedestrian street (August 2013)
The arms on a local sign (August 2013)	The arms on a local sign (August 2013)

Literature : Loutsch, J-C. et al.; Armorial communal du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, Fisch, Luxembourg, 1989, 331 p.