Map of Belgium showing where the Petit arms are recorded
The Petit arms were recorded in Flandre, c. 1663.
Flandre grew rich on cloth, and its towns were among the busiest in Europe. Merchant families bought land with their profits and took arms to go with it, so trade put as many names in the registers here as land did.
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 Belgium in this period.
Philip IV of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip IV of Spain
1621–1665
Reigning in Belgium when the Petit arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
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.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Flandre.
Origin & History of the Petit Family in Belgium
The surname Petit is a classic example of a descriptive nickname that eventually became a permanent family identifier. In the region of Flanders during the mid-seventeenth century, names were often derived from physical traits or personal characteristics to help distinguish individuals within a growing population. By 1663, records confirm that members of the Petit family were already established in the Flemish landscape, likely working within the agricultural or merchant classes that defined the local economy. Because Flanders was a hub of trade and cultural exchange, the name Petit served as a simple way to identify someone of small stature or perhaps a younger son in a household. These early families were deeply integrated into the local parish systems, which served as the primary method for tracking births, marriages, and deaths during this period. As the family moved through the generations in Belgium, the name remained a constant link to their ancestral roots in the region, reflecting a time when surnames were transitioning from fluid descriptions into fixed markers of heritage.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sa. à quatre pals d'or.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1542
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Map of France showing where the Petit arms are recorded
The Petit arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1542.
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 Belgium when the Petit 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 Petit Family in France
The surname Petit originated in France as a descriptive nickname, likely used to distinguish a person of smaller stature or a younger member of a family. By the mid-sixteenth century, the name was well-established across various French regions, including the province of Lorraine. Records confirm that members of the Petit family were active in this area by 1542, living during a time when the region was a crossroads of cultural and political shifts between the French kingdom and the Holy Roman Empire. As the name spread, it became one of the most common surnames in the country because it was simple to remember and easy to pronounce. Families bearing this name often worked as farmers, craftsmen, or local officials, contributing to the steady growth of rural and urban communities throughout the French countryside.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 lion pass. gu”
CornwallArdevora · Cornwall, c. 1362
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Map of England showing where the Petit arms are recorded
The Petit arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1362.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms with it.
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.
Edward III of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward III of England
1327–1377
Reigning in Belgium when the Petit 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 Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Petit Family in England
The surname Petit arrived in England as a descriptive nickname, originating from the Old French word for small or little. While the name is famously associated with the Norman Conquest, its presence became firmly established in the local records of Cornwall by the middle of the fourteenth century. By 1362, members of the Petit family were active participants in the social and legal life of the Cornish region, often appearing in administrative documents as landowners or witnesses. Because the name began as a way to distinguish individuals based on their physical stature or age, it was easily adopted by different families across various counties. Over time, these early settlers integrated into the English landscape, moving from their role as newcomers to becoming recognized members of their local communities. Their transition from a French-speaking minority to established English residents reflects the broader blending of cultures that defined the medieval period.
Petit Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
petitus
Latin term meaning small or sought after.
This name
PetitA descriptive nickname for a person of short stature or a younger sibling.
also spelled
Petyt
Petye
Peti
Petty
Petytt
Related arms
Borbone de Monte Santa-Mariasame arms
Broeckmansame arms
Chaumontetsame arms
Petytvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Debrabandere, Frans. Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk. 1993
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief), Parochieregisters (Registers van de parochies), 1600–1700
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lambGentleness, patience and faith
lambGentleness, patience and faith
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
