A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heiter family of France.
Reg. 8213 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
proboscides trunksGreat strength and long memory
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'azur à une pleine lune d'arg. en chef et deux étoiles d'or en p.; aux 2 et 3 parti d'or et de gu.; à deux prob. de l'un à l'autre. Sur le tout coupé: a. de gu. au lion naiss. d'or, mouv. du coupé; b. palé d'arg. et de sa. Trois cq. cour C.: 1º un demi-vol cont. aux armes du 1; 2º un lion iss. d'or, supp. de sa patte dextre une étoile du même; 3º deux prob., de gu. et d'or. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'or et de gu. T.: deux Indiens de carn., tort. d'arg., le col environné d'un collier de perles, les reins ceints d'un tablier de plumages d'azur.”
Francec. 1725
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Map of France showing where the Heiter arms are recorded
The Heiter 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 Heiter 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 Heiter Family in France
The family name Heiter carries a history rooted in the linguistic traditions of Western Europe. While the name is often associated with Germanic origins, where it translates to someone who is cheerful or bright, its presence in the Bretagne region of France by 1725 suggests a history of migration and cultural integration. During the early 18th century, families often moved across borders for trade, military service, or religious reasons. Settling in Bretagne, a region known for its strong local identity and maritime connections, the Heiter family likely adapted to the local French-speaking environment while maintaining their ancestral name. This transition highlights how surnames traveled alongside individuals, eventually becoming woven into the social fabric of their new communities as they established roots in their adopted homeland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
haitar
Old High German word meaning cheerful or serene.
This name
HeiterA descriptive surname referring to a person with a happy or lighthearted disposition.
also spelled
Heiter
Heiter von Schonwet
Heiter-Schonwet
Hyter de Shonwet
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil (1725)
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Fonds de l'intendance de Bretagne (1725)
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
proboscides trunksGreat strength and long memory
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
proboscides trunksGreat strength and long memory
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
