A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Pottinger family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2254 · Britain, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fusilTravail and industry
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sin. à une couronne à l'antique d'or, acc. de trois pélicans dans leurs aires au nat.; au canton d'arg., ch. d'une croix de gu. C.: un bras, arm. au nat., passé dans une couronne à l'antique de gu., la main de carn. tenant une épée d'arg, garnie d'or. T.: à dextre un mandarin chinois, tenant un rouleau de papiers; à sen. un soldat du Scinde, tenant un fusil. D.: VIRTUS IN ARDUA.”
BritainLondres, c. 1840
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Britain showing where the Pottinger arms are recorded
The Pottinger arms were recorded in Londres, c. 1840.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 Britain in this period.
Victoria
Sovereign of the period
Victoria
1837–1901
Reigning in Britain when the Pottinger arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Pottinger Family in Britain
The surname Pottinger is a locational name that originated in England, likely referring to someone who lived near a specific place or worked as a potter. The name is rooted in Old English and Middle English terminology, suggesting that early ancestors were often tradespeople who crafted earthenware vessels. By the time the name appears in historical records in Kent during the 1840s, the family had established deep roots in the region. During this period, Kent was a hub of agricultural and industrial growth, and families like the Pottingers were often involved in the local economy of the county. While the name was once tied to specific geographic locations or occupations, it eventually became a settled family identity that spread across various parts of Britain as people moved for work and opportunity throughout the nineteenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Vert an Eastern crown or, betw. three pelicans in their piety ppr. on a canton ar. a cross gu”
DevonMount Pottinger · Devon, c. 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of England showing where the Pottinger arms are recorded
The Pottinger 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 Britain when the Pottinger 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 Pottinger Family in England
The surname Pottinger is rooted in the occupational history of medieval England, originating from the word "pottinger," which described a maker or seller of pots and pans. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Devon. Records from 1620 show members of the family living in this region, where they were often involved in the local trade and agricultural life of the West Country. During this period, families like the Pottingers were typically part of the industrious middle class, working as craftsmen or merchants who helped sustain the local economy. Their migration and settlement patterns in Devon reflect the broader movement of families who sought stability and opportunity in the thriving towns and rural parishes of southern England. Over time, the family name became firmly associated with the social fabric of the region, marking them as a long-standing part of the local community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
pottager
A person who makes or sells pottage or soup.
This name
PottingerAn occupational surname for a maker or seller of vegetable stews or soups.
also spelled
Pottingere
Pottynger
Potingar
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, 1841 Census Returns for Kent, HO 107
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fusilTravail and industry
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fusilTravail and industry
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
