A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cotte family of France.
Reg. 5531 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'arg. à deux fasces de gu., ch. de cinq trèfles d'or, 3 et 2; au chef d'azur, ch d'une aigle d'or.”
Ile-de-FranceIle-de-France, c. 1663
Where the Cotte Arms Were Recorded
Ile-de-France
Map of France showing where the Cotte arms are recorded
The Cotte arms were recorded in Ile-de-France, c. 1663.
Ile-de-France is the country around Paris, and proximity to the court mattered. Families who served the crown were rewarded with land near it, and land near the capital carried arms almost as a matter of course.
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 Cotte 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 Ile-de-France.
Origin & History of the Cotte Family in France
The surname Cotte is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of north-central France, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the Ile-de-France region as early as 1663. The name itself is thought to have originated as a descriptive occupational or physical nickname, likely derived from the Old French word "cotte," which referred to a specific type of tunic or outer garment worn during the Middle Ages. Families bearing this name were often associated with the skilled trades or agricultural life that defined the rural parishes surrounding Paris during the seventeenth century. As the family established itself in the region, they became part of the local social fabric, participating in the parish life and administrative record-keeping that characterized the era. By the mid-1600s, the Cotte name was already well-integrated into the local community, reflecting a long history of residence and labor within the heart of the French kingdom.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cotte
Derived from the Old French word for a tunic or coat.
This name
CotteAn occupational name for a maker or wearer of tunics.
also spelled
Kotte
Cott
Kot
Related arms
Kottevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives nationales de France, Minutier central des notaires de Paris
Fichier Origine, Fédération des sociétés de généalogie du Québec et de la Fédération québécoise des sociétés de généalogie
Moréri, Louis, Le Grand Dictionnaire historique, ou le mélange curieux de l'histoire sacrée et profane, 1759
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
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
