A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Abott family of France.
Reg. 5736 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
leafHappiness and abundance
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à une coquille d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à une branche de fougère de sin., posée en pal.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Abott Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Abott arms are recorded
The Abott arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Abott arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Normandie.
Origin & History of the Abott Family in France
The surname Abbott originates from the Old English word "abbod," which was a title for the head of a monastery. During the Middle Ages, people often received this name because they worked for an abbey or possessed a personality that reminded others of a church leader. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Normandy, France. This suggests that the family had deep roots in Northern Europe long before they migrated across the Atlantic. These early ancestors likely lived as farmers or tradespeople in the rural villages of the French countryside. Their presence in Normandy during the seventeenth century places them in a time of significant social change, as many families from this area soon began to look toward the New World for new opportunities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Abbas
Aramaic word meaning father or religious leader.
This name
AbottDerived from a title for the head of an abbey or monastery.
also spelled
Abot
Mauvezin
Abott
Abo de la Movezinyer
Abbott
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
leafHappiness and abundance
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
leafHappiness and abundance
