A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heathcote family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1302 · 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
Where the Heathcote Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Heathcote arms are recorded
The Heathcote 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 Heathcote 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 Heathcote Family in France
The origins of the Heathcote family name are deeply rooted in the landscape of medieval England, yet the family established a notable presence in France by the early eighteenth century. By 1725, members of the family were documented living in the region of Bretagne, a coastal area known for its distinct cultural identity and maritime connections. During this period, families often moved across the English Channel for trade, diplomacy, or religious reasons, integrating themselves into the local social fabric of French towns. These early settlers in Bretagne likely navigated the complexities of living in a foreign land by maintaining their family identity while adapting to the customs of their new home. Their presence in the region highlights the historical movement of families between Britain and France, showing how names traveled alongside the people who carried them across borders.
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
Where the Heathcote Arms Were Recorded
Huntingdon
Map of England showing where the Heathcote arms are recorded
The Heathcote 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 Heathcote 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 Heathcote Family in England
The surname Heathcote is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the Old English words "hæth," meaning heath or open wasteland, and "cot," meaning a small cottage or shelter. This suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing the name were people who lived in or near a small hut situated on a patch of wild, uncultivated land. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the town of Huntingdon. During this period, families in Huntingdon were often involved in the local wool trade or agricultural management, which were the primary drivers of the regional economy. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local community, eventually spreading from their early roots in the English Midlands to other parts of the country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haeth-cot
Old English for heathland and a small shelter or cottage.
This name
HeathcoteRefers to a person who lived in a small dwelling located on open uncultivated land.
also spelled
Heathcoat
Hethcote
Heathcott
Heathkot
Related arms
Hackersimilar arms
Gregoryrecorded with Heathcote, same area
Leekerecorded with Heathcote, same area
Levettrecorded with Heathcote, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morice, Hyacinthe, Mémoires pour servir de preuves à l'histoire ecclésiastique et civile de Bretagne, 1742
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
