A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Abernathy family of Britain.
Reg. 8410 · Britain, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or au lion de gu.; et deux cotices de sa., br. sur le tout.”
Britainc. 1700
Where the Abernathy Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Abernathy arms are recorded
The Abernathy arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of arms.
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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Abernathy arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Abernathy Family in Britain
The surname Abernathy originates from a place name in the Perth and Kinross region of Scotland, specifically referring to the settlement located at the mouth of the Nethy River. The name itself is derived from the Gaelic words for the mouth of a river, which highlights the importance of geography to early family identity. While the name is deeply rooted in Scottish history, members of the family began to migrate and establish roots elsewhere as the centuries progressed. By the year 1700, records confirm that members of the Abernathy family were firmly settled in the county of Kent in England. During this period, families often moved to follow new economic opportunities or to seek land in different regions of the British Isles. The presence of the family in Kent suggests they were part of a broader movement of people who helped shape the local communities and social landscape of southern England during the turn of the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aber Nethy
Mouth of the River Nethy
This name
AbernathyDerived from a Scottish place name referring to the confluence of the Nethy and Spey rivers.
also spelled
Abernet
Abernathy
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Parish Registers of Kent, 1700
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
