A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dewitz family of France.
Reg. 6101 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à trois coupes couvertes d'or. Cq. cour. C.: deux bras, arm. au nat., les mains de carn. supp. ensemble une coupe couverte d'or.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Dewitz Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Dewitz arms are recorded
The Dewitz 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 Dewitz 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 Dewitz Family in France
The family name Dewitz has deep roots that connect to the complex history of Northern Europe and the movement of people across the continent. While the name is often associated with regions in modern-day Germany and Poland, the presence of family members in Bretagne by 1725 suggests that they were part of a mobile class of people who traveled for trade, military service, or professional opportunities. During the early eighteenth century, Bretagne served as a vital maritime hub, and families like the Dewitz often settled in such areas to integrate into local administrative or merchant circles. This migration reflects a time when surnames began to stabilize as families moved away from their ancestral lands to seek new roles in different cultural landscapes. By establishing themselves in France, these early ancestors demonstrated a capacity for adaptation that allowed the family name to persist across borders and through changing political climates.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dewitz
Derived from the Slavic word div, meaning wild or savage.
This name
DewitzRefers to a person originating from a wild or uncultivated region.
also spelled
Dewits
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kroll, Frank-Lothar. Die Familie von Dewitz: Eine deutsche Adelsgeschichte. 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
