Merkem

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MERKEM

Province : West-Vlaanderen
Incorporated into: 1977 Houthulst

Official blazon

Echiqueté d'argent et d'azur à six tires.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on October 29, 1840.

The arms are derived from the arms of the oldest known Lords of Merkem, the Van Grammene family, who are known as Lords of Merkem since around 1100. Later the estate was a possession of many different other families. The seals of the estate, however, all shows the chequered shield of the Van Grammene family. In the late 16^th century the number of the fields was reduced to six, but the old arms were restored later.