A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Proffitt family of France.
Reg. 5214 · French, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur au chev., acc. en chef de deux croiss. et en p. d'un épi, le tout d'or; aux 2 et 3 c.-éc. d'arg. et de gu., à trois fleurs-de-lis de l'un à l'autre, 2 et 1 (Merdy).”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
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 France showing where the Proffitt arms are recorded
The Proffitt arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Proffitt 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Proffitt Family in France
The name Proffitt is a variation of the Old French word profit, which originally described a person who was skilled at trade or someone who held a position of financial responsibility. By the year 1663, records confirm that families bearing this name were well established in the region of Bretagne in northwestern France. During this period, the name was often associated with individuals who served as stewards or managers for local estates. As the family moved across borders and through different regions, the spelling evolved to match the local languages and dialects of their new homes. This transition reflects the broader movement of people who traveled for work and opportunity during the seventeenth century. The history of the name is deeply tied to the professional roles these early ancestors held within their communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
profectus
Latin term meaning advancement, progress, or profit.
This name
ProffittAn occupational surname for a person who was a profit-maker, merchant, or someone who benefited from trade.
also spelled
Profiet
Profeet
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
