Wouter Berthout van Ranst

Wouter Berthout van Ranst was a nobleman, living in feudal times, and a vassal of the Duke of Brabant. He was given land near the Escaut River, which he named "Bergheem" (now : Berchem in Flanders). His descendants possessed the land for centuries. The Belgian town of Ranst is also named after him.

References

* [http://www.antwerpen.be/eCache/BER/17/375.cmVjPTMxMTA.html De Geschiedenis van Berchem] (Dutch) "The History of Berchem"