Map of France showing where the Bottone arms are recorded
The Bottone arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1438.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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.
Charles VII of France
Sovereign of the period
Charles VII of France
1422–1461
Reigning in France when the Bottone 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Bottone Family in France
The surname Bottone traces its roots back to the medieval period, with significant records placing the family in the Lorraine region of France by 1438. The name is generally believed to have originated as a nickname derived from the Old French word "boton," which translates to a bud or a button. In the context of the Middle Ages, this term was often used to describe a person who crafted buttons or perhaps someone with a round, stout physical appearance. As the family established itself in Lorraine, they likely integrated into the local social structure as artisans or landowners during a time of great regional transition. Over the following centuries, the family name spread through various parts of Europe, evolving in spelling and pronunciation as it adapted to different languages and local dialects. By maintaining a presence in Lorraine during the fifteenth century, the early Bottone family lived through a period of intense historical change that shaped the culture and identity of the borderlands between France and the Holy Roman Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bouton
A bud, knob, or small rounded protrusion.
This name
BottoneAn occupational name for a maker of buttons or a nickname for someone with a rounded physical feature.
also spelled
Bouttonne
Booton
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
