A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cathcart family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8429 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 trois croix recr. au pied fiché d'arg., soutenues chacune d'un croiss. du même (Cathcart); au 2 de gu. au lion d'arg. (Wallace de Sundrum); au 3 d'azur à trois coupes couvertes d'or (Schaw de Greenock). C.: une main dextre de carn., en pal, empoignant un croiss. d'arg. S.: deux perroquets, au nat. D.: I HOPE TO SPEED.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Cathcart Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Cathcart arms are recorded
The Cathcart arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Cathcart 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 Cathcart Family in France
The history of the Cathcart name in France is deeply tied to the movement of families across the English Channel during the eighteenth century. While the name is of ancient Scottish origin, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Bretagne by 1725. During this period, France served as a hub for families seeking new opportunities or fleeing political instability in the British Isles. These early settlers in Bretagne often integrated into the local social and economic fabric while maintaining their distinct family identity. Their presence in the region highlights the long history of migration between France and the rest of Europe, showing how a name could travel across borders and take root in a new cultural landscape. By settling in the coastal areas of western France, the Cathcart family became part of a small but notable group of expatriates who navigated life in a foreign land during the early modern era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. a human heart or, betw. three crosses crosslet fitchée, issuing out of as many crescents ar”
AyrCarleton · Ayr, c. 1703
Where the Cathcart Arms Were Recorded
Ayr
Map of Scotland showing where the Cathcart arms are recorded
The Cathcart arms were recorded in Ayr, c. 1703.
Ayrshire was farming country along Scotland's south-west coast, held in a great many small estates. Its lairds were numerous rather than rich, and each holding brought its own claim to 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 Scotland in this period.
Anne of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
Anne of Great Britain
1702–1707
Reigning in France when the Cathcart arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ayr.
Origin & History of the Cathcart Family in Scotland
The name Cathcart originates from the lands of Cathcart located along the White Cart Water in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The family took this name from the territory they held during the medieval period, which was a common practice for noble families establishing their identity in the region. By the early 18th century, the family had expanded their influence and presence into the county of Ayr. Records from 1703 confirm that members of the Cathcart family were well-established landowners and figures of local importance in this area. Over the centuries, the family played a significant role in Scottish history by serving in various military and political capacities. Their transition from a local territorial family to a prominent name in Ayrshire reflects the broader history of Scottish landownership and social mobility during the late Middle Ages and the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kerk-cart
Derived from the Old Northumbrian term for a river fort or settlement.
This name
CathcartRefers to a location near a river fort or castle in the Scottish Lowlands.
also spelled
Kathcart
Cathkart
Cathcarte
Cathkairt
Cathkairte
Related arms
M'Abenrecorded with Cathcart, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Baudry, René, Les Écossais en France au XVIIIe siècle, 1968
Le Gall, Jean-Marie, Les étrangers en Bretagne sous l'Ancien Régime, 1995
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
