Map of England showing where the Pitman arms are recorded
The Pitman arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a coat of 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 Pitman 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Pitman Family in England
The surname Pitman is an occupational name that originated in medieval England to describe a person who worked in or lived near a pit. This term most likely referred to a worker in a mine, a quarry, or perhaps a saw pit used for cutting timber. By the early 17th century, the family had established a strong presence in the county of Devon. Records confirm that members of the Pitman family were living in this region by 1620, likely working as skilled laborers or farmers within the local rural economy. Because surnames were often passed down based on a person's trade, the name reflects the essential role these ancestors played in the physical development and industry of the English countryside. Over time, the family became deeply rooted in the social fabric of Devon, where they continued to live and work for many generations.
Pitman Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
pyt
Old English term for a hollow, hole, or pit.
This name
PitmanAn occupational surname for someone who worked in or lived near a pit or mine.
also spelled
Pytman
Related arms
Bennettsame arms
Pittmansame arms
Boltonrecorded with Pitman, same area
Burwellrecorded with Pitman, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
Devon Archives, Parish Registers of Devon, 1620
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
