A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cotty family of France.
Reg. 4635 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'or à trois pensées au nat., tigées et feuillées de sin., rangées en fasce; au 2 d'azur à une tour d'arg., maçonnée de sa.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1663
Where the Cotty Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Cotty arms are recorded
The Cotty arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1663.
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.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Cotty 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 Cotty Family in France
The family name Cotty has deep roots in the Lorraine region of northeastern France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. During this period, Lorraine was a territory defined by its strategic location between the French Kingdom and the Holy Roman Empire, often serving as a crossroads for shifting borders and cultural exchange. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a nickname, as was common for families in rural European communities during the seventeenth century. Families in this area were often tied to the land through agriculture or local trade, and the Cotty name would have been passed down through generations as these individuals navigated the complex social and political changes of the region. By settling in Lorraine, the early members of the family became part of a resilient population that maintained its identity despite the frequent conflicts that shaped the history of the borderlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cotte
A medieval term for a tunic or a coat.
This name
CottyOriginally a nickname for a person who wore a distinctive tunic or a maker of garments.
also spelled
Coty
Cottie
Koty
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Cabourdin, Guy, La vie quotidienne en Lorraine aux XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles, 1984
Lepage, Henri, Les communes de la Meurthe: journal historique des villes, bourgs, villages, hameaux et censes de ce département, 1853
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
