Map of England showing where the Pitts arms are recorded
The Pitts arms were recorded in Bedford, c. 1620.
Bedfordshire was small, flat farming country close to London. Its manors were held by middling families rather than great ones, but a manor was a manor, and holding one brought 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 Pitts 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 Bedford.
Origin & History of the Pitts Family in England
The surname Pitts is a topographical name that originated in England during the Middle Ages. It was used to identify people who lived near a hollow, a pit, or a sunken area of land. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Pitts family were well-established in the town of Bedford. During this period, families in Bedford were often involved in local trade and agriculture as the town grew along the River Great Ouse. The name evolved from the Old English word pytt, which simply described a natural or man-made depression in the earth. As surnames became more common for legal and tax purposes, families living near these landmarks adopted the name to distinguish themselves from others in their community. This connection to the landscape highlights how early English families often defined their identity through the specific geography of their homes.
Pitts Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
pytt
Old English word for a pit, hole, or hollow in the ground.
This name
PittsA topographic name for someone who lived near a pit or a hollow.
also spelled
Pytts
Pettes
Pite
Related arms
Pitevariant spelling
Pyttsvariant spelling
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, 1958
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
