A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bigot family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 4101 · Britain, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti de sin. et d'or; à la croix anérée de sa. (ou de gu.), br. sur le tout.”
Britainc. 1700
Where the Bigot Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Bigot arms are recorded
The Bigot arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of arms.
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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Bigot arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Britain.
Origin & History of the Bigot Family in Britain
The surname Bigot has deep roots in medieval history, originating as a descriptive nickname in Normandy before crossing the English Channel. While the name is often associated with the powerful Bigod family of the Middle Ages, the branch that established itself in Kent by the year 1700 likely represented a different lineage of settlers or local residents. In the centuries following the Norman Conquest, the name evolved from a term used to describe a person’s perceived religious zeal or stubbornness into a stable family identifier. By the time the family appeared in Kentish parish records at the turn of the 18th century, they were part of a growing class of families who had integrated into local trade and agricultural life. Their presence in the region suggests a long transition from their continental origins to becoming firmly rooted in the social and economic fabric of southern England.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au chev. d'or, acc. de trois bes. d'arg., et en chef à sen. d'une fleur-de-lis d'or.”
FranceRouen, c. 1663
Where the Bigot Arms Were Recorded
Rouen
Map of France showing where the Bigot arms are recorded
The Bigot arms were recorded in Rouen, c. 1663.
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 Britain when the Bigot 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 France.
Origin & History of the Bigot Family in France
The surname Bigot has deep roots in the historical landscape of Normandy, France. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family was well-established in the city of Rouen, which served as a major center for commerce and administration in the region. During this era, families with this name were often involved in the professional and social life of the city, contributing to the growth of the local economy and the development of the urban community. The name itself is thought to have originated as a descriptive nickname in the Middle Ages, reflecting the unique traits or social standing of early ancestors who lived in Northern France. As the family grew, members of the Bigot line became part of the fabric of Norman society, leaving behind records that document their presence in the city as early as 1663. These early generations helped define the family legacy long before modern record-keeping systems were fully developed.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Or, a cross sarcelly gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bigot Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bigot arms are recorded
The Bigot arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Britain when the Bigot arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Bigot Family in England
The surname Bigot originated as a descriptive nickname in medieval France before crossing the English Channel with the Norman Conquest. While the name initially carried connotations of religious zeal or stubbornness, it eventually became a settled family name as it spread across various English regions. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Bigot family were living and working within this historic northern hub, participating in the local economy and community life. This transition from a descriptive label to a fixed surname reflects the broader patterns of social integration and record-keeping that defined English family history during the transition into the Stuart period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bige
Old French term referring to a religious hypocrite or superstitious person.
This name
BigotA nickname for a person perceived as overly pious or sanctimonious.
also spelled
Bygot
Bigod
Bigoh
Bygod
Related arms
Hugoninsimilar arms
Vasserotsimilar arms
Bigodvariant spelling
Bygod, or Bygodevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
The National Archives, Parish registers and Bishop's transcripts for the Diocese of Canterbury, 1700
Kent History and Library Centre, Archdeaconry of Canterbury probate records, 1700
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
