A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bitten family of England.
Reg. 6681 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Quarterly: 1st and 4th, az. a chev. erm betw. three anchors ppr.; 2nd and 3rd, gu. a saltire or, betw. four fleurs-de-lis of the second, quartering Drake and Ashe. Crvst—The trunk of an oak-tree couped at the top, issuing from towards the top two branches all ppr. The family also use a sea-lion erect holding in his paws an anchor all ppr”
DorsetUpcerne · Dorset, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Bitten arms are recorded
The Bitten arms were recorded in Dorset, c. 1620.
Dorset was quiet farming and grazing country along the south coast. Its gentry were middling rather than grand, but they held their manors for a very long time, and long holding is what puts a name in the records.
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 England when the Bitten 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 Dorset.
Origin & History of the Bitten Family in England
The Bitten family name has deep roots in the English county of Dorset, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, the name was likely tied to the rural landscape of the West Country, where families often took surnames based on their trade, their physical traits, or the specific location of their homesteads. In the coastal and agricultural communities of Dorset, the Bittens were part of a society defined by parish life and local land management. As the family grew, they became part of the fabric of these small villages, contributing to the local economy through farming and skilled labor. Over the generations, the name persisted in the region, reflecting the steady and quiet history of families who remained connected to their ancestral home for centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Biton
An Old French diminutive form of the name Bito or Bide.
This name
BittenA locational or habitational surname likely referring to someone from a small settlement or enclosure.
also spelled
Battin
Batton
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Dorset History Centre, Dorset Parish Registers, 1620
Hanks, Patrick and Hodges, Flavia, A Dictionary of Surnames, 1988
Mills, Anthony David, Dorset Place-Names, 1986
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
