Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur au chev. d'or.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Robinette family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur au chev. d'or.”

The Robinette 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.
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.
The surname Robinette originates from the French region of Bretagne, where it functioned as a diminutive form of the name Robin. During the seventeenth century, the name was well-established in this coastal area, as evidenced by records of family members living there in 1663. The suffix "ette" was commonly added to names in the French language to indicate a smaller version or an affectionate nickname. Because of this, the name likely began as a way to distinguish a younger person or a specific individual within a local community. Over time, as families grew and moved, the name became a permanent hereditary surname passed down through generations. The presence of the Robinette family in Bretagne during the mid-1600s suggests they were part of the traditional rural society of northwestern France, likely involved in local agriculture or trade.
Derived from Germanic elements meaning bright fame or renowned glory.