A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heathcoat family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7370 · 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 Heathcoat arms are recorded
The Heathcoat 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 Heathcoat 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 Heathcoat Family in France
The history of the Heathcoat family in France centers on the region of Bretagne, where records confirm family members were established by 1725. During this period, the name likely emerged from a blend of linguistic influences as families moved across the English Channel and integrated into local French society. Many families with similar roots in this era were involved in the shifting maritime trade and agricultural networks that defined the coastal towns of western France. By settling in Bretagne, the Heathcoat family became part of a unique cultural landscape that balanced traditional Breton customs with the broader administrative changes occurring under the French monarchy. Their presence in the region suggests a life tied to the local economy and the social structures of the eighteenth century, marking a significant chapter in the family’s transition between two distinct European cultures.
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 Heathcoat arms are recorded
The Heathcoat 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 Heathcoat 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 Heathcoat Family in England
The surname Heathcoat is a locational name that emerged from the English landscape, likely describing a family that lived near a heath or a small cottage. By the early 17th century, the family had established a clear presence in the county of Huntingdon, where records confirm members were living by 1620. During this period, the region was primarily agricultural, and families often identified themselves by the specific features of the land they occupied. As the name moved through generations, it became a marker of their local identity within the English Midlands. The transition from a simple description of a place to a formal family name reflects the way English society organized itself as communities grew more stable and record-keeping became more common in parish registers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hath
Old English term referring to a heath or uncultivated open land.
This name
HeathcoatA dweller at or near a cottage located on a heath or moorland.
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 (Cours et juridictions)
Galllouédec, Louis, La Bretagne, 1917
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
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
