A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hathcoat family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9133 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'herm. à trois tourt. de sin., ch. chacun d'une croix d'or (Heathcote); aux 2 et 3 d'azur au saut. engr. d'herm. (Rayner). Cq. timbré d'une couronne murale d'azur. C.: un tourteau du 1, entre un vol d'herm. S.: deux chevaux de sa., coll. de couronnes d'or et ch. chacun sur l'épaule d'un fer-à-cheval du même, les bouts en bas. D.: HABERE ET DISPERTIRI.”
Francec. 1725
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Map of France showing where the Hathcoat arms are recorded
The Hathcoat 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 Hathcoat 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 Hathcoat Family in France
The roots of the Hathcoat family name in France are deeply connected to the rugged landscape of the Bretagne region during the early eighteenth century. By 1725, records confirm that members of the family were established within this coastal province, a time when the area was defined by its distinct Celtic heritage and strong maritime traditions. The name likely evolved as a localized variation of regional surnames, reflecting the way families were identified by their specific trade or their proximity to local landmarks in the rural countryside. Life in Bretagne during this period required great resilience, as the population navigated the complex social and economic shifts occurring under the French monarchy. As these early ancestors settled into their communities, they contributed to the unique cultural tapestry of the region, leaving behind a legacy that bridges the gap between their French origins and their later movements across the globe.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Erm. three pomeis, each charged with a cross or”
HuntingdonConnington Castle · Huntingdon, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Hathcoat arms are recorded
The Hathcoat arms were recorded in Huntingdon, c. 1620.
Huntingdonshire was small, flat fen-edge country. Drainage made new farmland and new fortunes, and families who gained by it bought manors and took arms to match.
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 Hathcoat 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 Huntingdon.
Origin & History of the Hathcoat Family in England
The surname Hathcoat is a topographical name that likely originated from individuals living near a specific landmark or geographic feature in the English countryside. The name is composed of elements that suggest a connection to a "heath" or open, uncultivated land, paired with a term for a shelter or enclosure. By the early 17th century, the family had established a presence in the historic market town of Huntingdon. Records confirm that members of the Hathcoat family were living in this area by 1620, a time when Huntingdon was a significant center for trade and local administration along the River Great Ouse. During this period, families often took their surnames from the specific landscape they inhabited, and the Hathcoats likely identified with the rugged, open terrain surrounding their community. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of Huntingdon, contributing to the social and economic life of the town during the transition into the Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hath
Derived from the Old English word for a hedge or enclosure.
This name
HathcoatA topographical name for someone who lived near a fenced-in cottage or enclosure.
also spelled
Heathcoat
Hethcote
Heathcott
Heathkot
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Fonds de la juridiction de Rennes)
Gautier, Hervé. Histoire de la Bretagne et des Bretons. 1990
Le Moyne, Jean. Les noms de famille en Bretagne. 1985
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
cross symbolChristian faith and service
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
