A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Conant family of England.
Reg. 3594 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Per saltire az. and gu. twenty billets or, afterwards altered to “gu. ten billets or, four, three, two, and one.””
RutlandLyndon Hall · Rutland, c. 1620
Where the Conant Arms Were Recorded
Rutland
Map of England showing where the Conant arms are recorded
The Conant arms were recorded in Rutland, c. 1620.
Rutland is the smallest English county, but its land was good and its manors were held by families of standing. A small county with good land still produces its share of recorded 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 England when the Conant 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 Rutland.
Origin & History of the Conant Family in England
The surname Conant is believed to have originated in the region of Normandy, France, before spreading into England. The name likely evolved from the Old French personal name Conon, which was brought to the British Isles during the medieval period. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Rutland, England. Records from this time indicate that members of the Conant family were active participants in local community life and land management within the region. As the family grew, some members eventually sought new opportunities across the Atlantic, helping to carry the name into the early colonial history of North America. This transition marked a significant chapter in the family story as they moved from their established roots in the English countryside to the developing settlements of the New World.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Conan
Derived from the Celtic word for hound or wolf.
This name
ConantA patronymic surname meaning son of the little hound or little warrior.
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Conant, Frederick Odell, A History and Genealogy of the Conant Family in England and America, 1887
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives (UK), Rutland Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
