Map of France showing where the Moth arms are recorded
The Moth arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1534.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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.
Francis I of France
Sovereign of the period
Francis I of France
1515–1547
Reigning in France when the Moth 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Moth Family in France
The surname Moth has deep roots in the region of Lorraine, where historical records confirm the family was established by at least 1534. During this period, the name likely functioned as a descriptive identifier or a nickname within the local community. In the linguistic landscape of the sixteenth century, names were often tied to a person's trade, physical traits, or the specific area where they lived. Because Lorraine served as a cultural crossroads between French and Germanic influences, the name may have evolved from local dialects or occupational terms common to that part of Europe. Families living in this region during the 1500s were often involved in agriculture or regional crafts, and the Moth name likely traveled through these social circles as the family grew and moved across the changing borders of the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Motte
A mound, hill, or fortified earthwork.
This name
MothRefers to a person who lived near a prominent hill or a fortified castle mound.
also spelled
Mothee
Motheh
Mot
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Bouteiller, Ernest de, Dictionnaire topographique de l'ancien département de la Moselle, 1874
Lepage, Henri, Les communes de la Meurthe: journal historique des villes, bourgs, villages, hameaux et censes, 1853
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
foxWit and wisdom in defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
foxWit and wisdom in defence
