A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lamott family of Belgium.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. three bars humettée sa”
The Lamott arms were recorded in London, c. 1633.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Brabant.
Brabant lay at the heart of the Low Countries, where the trade routes met. Its towns were wealthy and its landowners many, and both kinds of family kept arms, which is why the region is so heavily represented.
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.
Reigning in Belgium when the Lamott arms are first recorded.
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
The family name Lamott finds its roots in the historical region of Brabant, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1633. The name is generally considered a variation of the French term "la motte," which historically referred to a person who lived near a small hill, a mound, or a fortified earthwork. During the seventeenth century, Brabant was a bustling center of trade and culture, and families living there often adopted surnames based on the specific landscape features of their homes. As the family moved and interacted with different linguistic groups in the Low Countries, the spelling evolved to fit local pronunciation. This transition from a descriptive nickname to a formal family name reflects the way many people in the region established their identities during a time of significant social change.
A mound or earthwork fortification used in medieval defensive structures.
