Trotter Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

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Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (borne by the family of Byers (now Byers Green) Hall, co. Durham, which, seated there in the 14th century, still flourishes in the male line, and quarters, among other distinguished coats, the arms of Dale, Blackett, Conyers, Tempest, Aton, of Aton (Barons), Umfravill, of Prudhoe (Barons and Barts), and Kyme (Barons and Earls), the three latter leing peerages in abeyance among the co-representatives). (Skelton Castle, Cleveland, co. York; confirmed by William Flower, Norroy, 16 Feb. 1587; a cadet of the ancient co. Durham family, represented by John Thomas Wharton, Esp., of Skelton Castle, whose great-great-grand mother, Katherine Trotter, was the heiress of Skelton). Ar. a chief erm. over all a lion ramp. az. Crest—A lion’s head erased ar. collared erm. Motto—Fortia non ferox. N.B.—In the Heraldry by Guillim, 1724, the above coat and crest la the only one given for Trotter, which is a Saxon surname, the Winton Domesday Book showing that Robert Trotar waa a tenant-in-chief of King Edward the Confesser.
2) (Helmden, now Helmington, Hall; Visit. Durham, 1615; also a cadet branch of Byers Hall, springing from the marriage, about 1520, of Christopher Trotter with the heiress of Sir Hugh Burdon, Lord of Helmden). Ar. a lion ramp. sa. a chief erm.
3) (Horton Manor, co. Surrey; exemplified to William Brown, Esq., upon his assuming, by royal licence, the surname of Trotter, 1868). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, ar. a crescent gu. on a chief indented az. three mullets pierced of the field, a canton ar. for distinction, tor Trotter; 2nd and 3rd, az. a chev. chequy ar. and sa. betw. three fleurs-de-lis of the second, for Brown. Crests—1st, Trotter: A horse trotting ar. charged on the neck, for distinction, with a cross crosslet az.; 2nd, Brown: A lion ramp. gu. armed and langued az. holding in his dexter forepaw a fleur-de-lis ar., motto over, Fortitudine et fidelitate. Motto—Festina lente.
4) (Raheen, co. Galway; confirmed to William Clifford Bermingham Trotter, Esq., of Raheen, and to the other descendants of his grandfather, Clifford Trotter, Esq., of Charleville Cottage, co. Wicklow, by Lady Mary, his wife, dau. of William, second Earl of Howth, and coheiress of her mother. Lady Mary Bermingham, second dau. and co-heiress of Thomas, twenty-second Baron Athenry and Earl of Louth). Ar. on a chev. gu. betw. three boars’ heads couped sa. a ram’a head of the field. Crest—On a ducal coronet or, a horse trotting ar. caparisoned ppr. and resting the defter forehoof on an escutcheon paly of six ar. and gu., over the crest, on an escroll, “Deed shaw.” Motto—Toujours pret.
5) Sa. three nags pass. ar. a border or.
6) (Mortonhall, co. Edinburgh). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, ar. a fess gu. betw. three mullets in chief sa. and a crescent in base az., for Trotter, of Mortonhall; 2nd and 3rd, ar. a chev. gu. betw. three boars’ heads couped sa., for Trotter, of Charterhall. Crest—A knight in armour ppr. holding his courser ar. caparisoned gu. Supporters—Dexter, a lion ramp. gu.; sinister, a horse ar. maned and hoofed or. Motto—Impromptu.
7) (Kettlesbiel, co. Berwick, and Horton, co. Surrey, 1803). Ar. a crescent gu. on a chief indented az. three mullets pierced of the field. Crest—A horse trotting ppr. Motto—Festina lente.
8) (Bush, co. Edinburgh). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, as the last; 2nd and 3rd, gu. a lion ramp. ar. crowned or, and charged on the shoulder with a crescent of the first, for Moubray. Same Crest and Motto.
9) (Sir Coutts Trotter, Bart., 1821; his successor, in terms of the limitation of the baronetcy, was his grandson, by a dau., Sir Coutts Lindsay. See Lindsay). Quarterly, as the last, within a bordure erm. Same Crest and Motto. Supporters (granted 1826, with limitation to the heirs to the baronetcy)—Dexter, a white horse ppr.; sinister, a lion ar. armed and langued az.
10) (Shuddy Camp, co. Cambridge). As Kettleshiel, with the chief engr. for diff. Crest and Motto, as Kettleshiel.
11) (Catchelraw, co. Berwick). Ar. a chev. gu. betw. three boars’ heads couped sa. Crest—A horse pass. ar. furnished gu.
12) (Capt. David Trotter, 1672). Ar. a chev. indented gu. betw. three boars’ heads couped sa. Crest—A galley in full course ppr. Motto—Virtutis fortuna comes.
13) (Trotter-Cranstoun). (Dewar, co. Edinburgh, 1848). Ar. a fess erm. betw. three mullets in chief as. and a crescent in. base az. all within a bordure gu. charged with three cranes of the field. Crest—A crane dormant holding in its dexter foot a stone ppr. Motto—Thou shalt want ere I want.