Heraldry and Arms

This site is a composite of related topics found in Leavitt Pioneers by Bill Leavitt; and noted here with his permission. English arms typically are found from early Visitations recorded by royal heralds. Learning heraldry is beyond the scope of this site. Although, hyperlinks to helpful exogenous sites are provided below. Here, we have published a short version of what is currently known about Leavitt arms for all to enjoy. A study of arms can help in identifying ancestry. See SUBMISSIONS above to correct mistakes or make additions.

Leavitt Arms

In the forty-ninth chapter of Genesis, it notes Jacob giving his sons distinctive symbols in blessing them. To Judah, he gave a lion. Still, most historians credit twelfth-century England for the inception of family "heraldry". Beginning in that century, King Henry VIII sent Heralds into each shire "to officially confirm, register, or repudiate Arms." Such visitations occurred once every generation for almost two centuries. They recorded arms in specific descriptions or blazons in black-and-white patterns called petra sancta, and always contained a shield with the possibility of other elements such as: a helm, mantling, crest, wreath, and motto. Each had meaning, and some had even further sub-elements of meaning. The shield blazon, for example, began with the shield's background color and, incorporated delineation by side (dexter=our left, and sinister=our right); decoration (tinctures/colors, furs, and metals), each representing a characteristic of its owner; ordinaries (geometric color bands), including sub-ordinaries; field partitions; and charges (symbolic beings or objects). The helm (helmet) and its mantling (plumage) were not always included in blazons. A crest (an animal atop the helm or shield) and wreath (colored rope under the Crest) were only included to indicate military leadership or knighthood (after the thirteenth century). A motto was included as a symbolic war cry, religious or patriotic tribute. Anyone found using Arms without confirmed heraldic right was punished by imprisonment or death.

By heraldic law, only the first born sons of the original Arms-recipient were entitled to bear the exact same Arms. Others were allowed only approved, modified forms. For example, the blazon to Levett descendants with cross-crosslet fitché, or semé/crusilly fitché, only appears after the 16th century. Each modification also had its own set of rules and symbolic meanings. Whenever the Crown granted/awarded Arms to descendants, it came only through Royal Heralds. Their response always incorporated key elements of past Arms to show continuity (a means of proving relationships). First-born females were granted the family Arms when there were no male heirs. If one married such a woman, her Arms and his Arms were combined, involving the "quartering" of a shield, with the husband's arms always top dexter. It is believed that such was the case of Captain Christopher Levett and his wife, Francis Lottesham/ Lottisham (see right).

In Burke's General Armory, one finds a post twelfth century Levett coat-of-arms (similar to the one used by the Western Association of Leavitt Families). The shield is silver/white (argent) with a background full (semé/crusilly) of black (sable) crossed-and-pointed crosses (fitché) upon which a black (sable) attacking lion stands on one foot (rampant). The crest is the upper-half (demi) of a silver/white (argent) attacking lion (rampant) wearing a crown of gold (or) and holding a crossed-and-pointed cross (see right). The mantling has been added.

The arms at right was granted to William Levett of Warlbleton in 1607. Since William was second cousin to John Leavitt, under heraldic law, John's heirs are ineligible to use it. However, Americans exempt themselves from such rules. As such, this arms is used by the National Association of Leavitt Families. The incorporation of four fleur-de-lis' to the outer shield and inner scalloping to the inner shield is noteworthy; as is the addition of a motto. The Western Association of Leavitt Families has borrowed this motto.

A more exhaustive discussion of Leavitt heraldry is found in Bill Leavitt's, Leavitt Pioneers - now on CD. See the "Recommended Reading" section of the LIBRARY for the particulars.

If you find a Leavitt, Levet(t), Levit(t), Livet(t), Lyvet(t) blazon you would like to see in a color graphic, please submit the blazon to the FAMILY HISTORY SITE MANAGER (below).