A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Livingston family of France.
Reg. 8030 · French, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cinquefoilHope and joy
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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'arg. à trois quintefeuilles de gu., encloses dans un double trêcheur fleur. et c.-fleur. de sin.; aux 2 et 3 de sa. à la bande d'or, acc. de six bill. du même, rangées en orle. Sur le tout d'arg. à deux trèfles de sin., mouv. d'une fasce du même; et à la bord. de gu., ch. de huit étoiles du champ. Cq. cour. C.: un sauvage iss. de carn., ceint et cour. de lierre, tenant une massue sur son épaule. T.: deux sauvages pareils.”
Francec. 1725
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Map of France showing where the Livingston arms are recorded
The Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston Family in France
The Livingston family name originates from a place called Livingston in West Lothian, Scotland, which was established by a Flemish settler named Leving during the twelfth century. Over time, the family expanded their influence and moved across different regions, eventually establishing a presence in the Brittany region of France by 1725. This migration was common for families of that era who sought new opportunities in trade or military service across the continent. While the name began as a description of a specific location in Scotland, it evolved into a hereditary surname that traveled with the family as they integrated into new cultures. By the early eighteenth century, the descendants of these Scottish settlers had become part of the local social fabric in Brittany, maintaining their identity while adapting to life in a new country.
Livingston Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Levingstoun
The estate or settlement belonging to a man named Leving.
This name
LivingstonDerived from a Scottish place name meaning Leving's town or settlement.
also spelled
Livingstone
Livingstoun
Livingstowne
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Black, George Fraser. The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History. 1946
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine. État civil et registres paroissiaux. 1725
Barrow, G.W.S. The Kingdom of the Scots: Government, Church and Society from the eleventh to the fourteenth century. 1973
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cinquefoilHope and joy
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cinquefoilHope and joy
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
