Map of France showing where the Petta arms are recorded
The Petta 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 Petta 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 Petta Family in France
The family name Petta has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1725. During the early eighteenth century, Brittany was a distinct province with its own unique customs, language, and social structure. Families like the Pettas often lived in rural parishes where their daily lives revolved around the agricultural cycles of the land and the local maritime trade. Because the region was somewhat isolated from the rest of France, many families maintained strong ties to their local communities for generations. The name likely evolved from regional dialects spoken in the area, reflecting the linguistic blend of Breton and French that characterized the province at the time. By settling in this coastal region, the early Petta family became part of a resilient population that navigated the complex political and economic changes of the French kingdom throughout the 1700s.
Petta Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Petrus
Latin for rock or stone.
This name
PettaA diminutive form derived from the name Peter, signifying a small stone or rock.
also spelled
Petau
Pettauw
Pettaux
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Gauthier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 2010
Le Goff, Yves, La vie quotidienne en Bretagne au XVIIIe siècle, 1985
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
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
