A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heathcott family of France.
Reg. 8278 · 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 Heathcott arms are recorded
The Heathcott 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 Heathcott 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 Heathcott Family in France
The family name Heathcott carries a history rooted in the cross-cultural movements of the early eighteenth century. While the name possesses linguistic ties to English landscape descriptors, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in the region of Bretagne, France, by 1725. During this era, families often migrated across the English Channel due to trade connections, religious shifts, or military service. Settling in Bretagne placed the family within a unique cultural landscape where they likely navigated the distinct traditions of the Breton people while maintaining their own ancestral identity. This transition into French society suggests that the early Heathcotts were adaptable individuals who integrated into local communities while preserving their distinct family heritage through the generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haeth-cot
Old English for a small shelter located on uncultivated open land.
This name
HeathcottRefers to a person who lived in a small cottage situated on a heath.
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, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1998
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1905
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
