A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Flotte family of France.
Reg. 7583 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
Colours
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)
“D'azur à une mer d'arg., ch. d'une chaloupe de sa.”
MaineMaine, c. 1663
Where the Flotte Arms Were Recorded
Maine
Map of France showing where the Flotte arms are recorded
The Flotte arms were recorded in Maine, c. 1663.
Maine was quiet farming country in western France, held in small manors by families who stayed for generations. Nothing about it was grand, but steady landholding is exactly what puts a name in the registers.
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 Flotte 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 Maine.
Origin & History of the Flotte Family in France
The family name Flotte originates from the historical region of Maine in northwestern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of this family were well-established residents of the area. The name itself is likely derived from an old French term relating to a person who lived near a stream or a body of water, as the word often described floating objects or currents. During the seventeenth century, families in this region were typically tied to the land through agriculture or local trade. As the name appears in parish registers and legal documents from this period, it indicates that the Flotte family held a recognized place within their local community. These early ancestors lived through a time of significant social change in France, eventually contributing to the migration patterns that spread the name across different regions and beyond.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
flot
Old French term referring to a wave, tide, or floating object.
This name
FlotteA topographic name for someone who lived near a stream or a floating bridge.
also spelled
Flott
Flot
Flottes
Related arms
Abbainorecorded with Flotte, same area
Acchiardirecorded with Flotte, same area
Balmerecorded with Flotte, same area
Corporandyrecorded with Flotte, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Sarthe, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Bouchard, Gérard, Quelques arpents d'Amérique: Population et économie du peuplement français au Canada, 1996
Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec, Programme de recherche en démographie historique, 1980
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
