A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Neet family of England.
Reg. 0841 · English, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
bullValour and generosity
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. a chev. betw. two trefoils in chief vert and a bull's head couped at the neck in base gu. horned and crined or”
WiltsLondon · Wilts, c. 1620
Where the Neet Arms Were Recorded
Wilts
Map of England showing where the Neet arms are recorded
The Neet arms were recorded in Wilts, c. 1620.
Wiltshire was sheep country, and wool made money steadily for hundreds of years. Families who made it bought manors on the downs, and holding a manor was the usual reason to take arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Neet arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Wilts.
Origin & History of the Neet Family in England
The family name Neet has deep roots in the English county of Wiltshire, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, the name was often associated with rural life and the agricultural landscape of the West Country. Families with this surname were typically part of the local community, working in trades or farming to support their households. Because surnames were still evolving in their spelling during this period, the name may have appeared in local documents as Neate or Neet depending on how a clerk heard the pronunciation. These early ancestors lived through a time of significant social change in England, helping to establish the family presence in Wiltshire that would persist for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Nete
Middle English term for neat or cattle.
This name
NeetAn occupational name for a cowherd or someone who tended to cattle.
also spelled
Nete
Neet
Neatt
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Bishop’s Transcripts for the Diocese of Salisbury
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Will registers
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
bullValour and generosity
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
bullValour and generosity
