Their coat of arms is basically "Sable, on a chief argent a label of the field" (French: De sable, au chef d'argent chargé d'un lambel du champ), a colour scheme that is present from the earliest Vilains in the 15th century, and is also seen in the Vilain XIIII arms, which have the "XIIII" added to it.

One branch lived at the Chateau of Leut (or Leuth) from 1822 until 1922, when the last of 7 daughters of Vicomte Charles Vilain XIIII died.

[5][6] The origin and tree given there are as follows (always from father to son): Branch of Hugues II, son of Hugues (from the same non-trustworthy old sources): Without the XIIII, there was a family "Vilain de Gand":[1] Perhaps the earliest (no date, later than 1424) of these we find is Jean Vilain, lord of Sint-Jans-Steene, who married Marguerite de Grave dite de Liedekerke; their son Adrien Vilain was Lord of Sint-Jans-Steene and Baron of Assenede and married Jossine van Praet.

is Vilain de Liedekercke (or Liedekerke; see the origin of the Vilain XIIII name above); around 1570, we find Jacqueline Vilain de Liedekercke, married to Philippe van Royen, knight, Lord of Gyseghem (Gijzegem); their daughter Marie van Royen (died 1595) married Philippe Triest, lord of Auweghem, mayor of Ghent ("premier echevin" of the Keure of Ghent), member of the very important Triest family of Ghent.

Omitting the earlier, less certain bearers of the title, we have; In 1414, a Daniel Vilain was owner of seignory Welle in the Land of Beveren.