Map of France showing where the Litty arms are recorded
The Litty 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 Litty 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 Litty Family in France
The family name Litty traces its roots to the historic region of Bretagne in northwestern France, where records confirm the presence of family members by the year 1725. During the early eighteenth century, this area was a distinct province defined by its strong maritime culture and unique linguistic traditions. Families living in Bretagne at this time were often deeply connected to the local parish system, which served as the primary center for community life and record keeping. Given the regional naming customs of the period, the name likely evolved from a localized nickname or a descriptive term used to identify a specific household within a rural village. As the family established itself in this rugged coastal landscape, they became part of the long history of Breton society, which was characterized by agricultural labor and close ties to the Atlantic trade routes. Over the following generations, the name persisted as a marker of the family’s deep ancestral connection to this specific corner of France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Litus
Latin term meaning shore, coast, or boundary.
This name
LittyA locative surname referring to someone who lived near a shore or coastal region.
also spelled
Littah
Lita
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B, Fonds de la juridiction de Bretagne
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Pocquet du Haut-Jussé, Barthélemy, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1937
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
