A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Harcourt family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9909 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
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 deux fasces d'or. S.: deux lions d'or, arm. et lamp. de gu. D.: GESTA VERBIS PRÆVENIENT.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Harcourt Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Harcourt arms are recorded
The Harcourt arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 Harcourt 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Harcourt Family in France
The Harcourt family name traces its roots back to the rugged landscape of Normandy, France, where the family established itself as a prominent force in the region. By the mid-seventeenth century, records confirm that members of the Harcourt family were firmly settled in Normandy, participating in the social and administrative life of the province. The name itself is linked to a specific geographic location, as it was common for noble families in this era to adopt the names of their ancestral lands to signify their status and heritage. Over many generations, the family became deeply woven into the fabric of French history, moving from local landholders to influential figures who navigated the complex political shifts of the French monarchy. Their presence in Normandy during the 1660s reflects a time when the family was consolidating its influence and maintaining its historical ties to the northern French countryside.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Or, two bars gu. in chief three escallops of the second”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Harcourt Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Harcourt arms are recorded
The Harcourt arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 France when the Harcourt 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 England.
Origin & History of the Harcourt Family in England
The Harcourt family name traces its roots to the Normandy region of France before becoming established in England following the Norman Conquest. Over several centuries, the family spread across various English counties, eventually forming a documented presence in the city of York by the early seventeenth century. By 1620, members of the family were active participants in the social and economic life of this historic northern hub. During this era, families like the Harcourts often navigated the shifting political landscape of England by securing positions in local administration or trade. Their transition from continental landowners to established English residents reflects the broader movement of families who helped shape the development of regional communities throughout the medieval and early modern periods.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hard-court
Derived from the Germanic elements for brave or hardy and enclosure.
This name
HarcourtRefers to a fortified dwelling or a brave person from a protected estate.
also spelled
Harcourte
Harcourtt
Harcoor
Harcort
Related arms
Masseyrecorded with Harcourt, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
La Roque, Gilles-André de. Histoire généalogique de la maison de Harcourt. 1662
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime. Série E, Titres de famille et de propriété
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
