A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Clutter family of France.
Reg. 0671 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. au chev. d'arg., acc. de trois oiseaux du même; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à la bande de gu., acc. de deux têtes et cols de bouc de sa. Sur le tout de gu. à l'aigle d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: une aigle d'arg., entre deux têtes et cols d'aigle de sa., adossées. L. de gu. et de sa.”
Francec. 1663
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Map of France showing where the Clutter arms are recorded
The Clutter arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Clutter 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 Clutter Family in France
The family name Clutter is believed to have originated as a descriptive term related to the occupation of cloth working or the management of household goods. While the name is often associated with English origins, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Bretagne, France, by 1663. During this period, families in Bretagne were often deeply connected to the local agricultural and maritime trades that defined the coastal economy. As the family moved across borders, the spelling of the name likely shifted to adapt to the phonetic rules of different languages. This movement suggests that early members of the Clutter family were part of a mobile population that sought new opportunities in trade and land ownership throughout Western Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Clot
A lump, mass, or clod of earth.
This name
ClutterA topographical name for someone who lived on or worked a clod of earth or field.
also spelled
Clautyer
Clautie
Clotier
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, 1663
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
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
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
