A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Watt family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0574 · English, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Per fess or and az. a fess embattled betw. three fleurs-de-lis counterchanged”
HerefordLeominster · Hereford, c. 1594
Where the Watt Arms Were Recorded
Hereford
Map of England showing where the Watt arms are recorded
The Watt arms were recorded in Hereford, c. 1594.
Herefordshire lay on the Welsh border, where land was held in return for military service. Families there were expected to arm and to fight, and a fighting household needed a shield it could be known by.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Watt 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 Hereford.
Origin & History of the Watt Family in England
The surname Watt is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a shortened version of the name Walter. During the Middle Ages, people often used nicknames to distinguish between individuals with the same common name, and Watt became the popular pet form of Walter across England. By the time records appear in Hereford in 1594, the name had already been established for several generations as families transitioned from using single names to permanent hereditary surnames. These early families were often part of the growing merchant or agricultural classes, living in rural parishes where they were recorded in local church registers and tax documents. Because the name was tied to a common personal name, it emerged independently in different parts of the country rather than originating from a single ancestor. This pattern of naming reflects how ordinary people in Elizabethan England solidified their family identities through the names they used in daily life.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Ar. an oak tree growing out of a mount in base vert, on one of the branches a pair of spectacles ppr. and on the top of the tree an eye ppr”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Watt Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Watt arms are recorded
The Watt arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1748.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was the seat of Scotland's government, its courts and its heralds. Families with business there settled nearby, and being close to where arms were recorded is exactly why so many of them appear.
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 Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in England when the Watt arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Scotland.
Origin & History of the Watt Family in Scotland
The surname Watt is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a shortened form of the name Walter. During the Middle Ages, it became a common practice in Scotland to refer to a person by a nickname or a simplified version of their given name. By the time the family was firmly established in Edinburgh by 1748, the name had evolved from a simple identifier into a permanent hereditary surname. Many people with this name were part of the growing urban population that helped shape the city during the eighteenth century. As Edinburgh expanded as a center for trade and learning, families named Watt contributed to the local economy and the daily life of the capital. The name reflects a long history of Scottish naming traditions that turned individual nicknames into the family identities we recognize today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Walter
Derived from Germanic elements meaning rule and army or warrior.
This name
WattA medieval diminutive form of the name Walter, signifying a powerful warrior.
also spelled
Wate
Related arms
Rouettsimilar arms
Watevariant spelling
Philipsrecorded with Watt, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Herefordshire Archives, Parish Register Transcripts for Hereford St Nicholas, 1594
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
