Map of England showing where the Ailsworth arms are recorded
The Ailsworth arms were recorded in Warwick, c. 1620.
Warwickshire lay in the middle of England, and its landed families were spread evenly across it rather than gathered in one corner. A great many held a single manor each, and each of those holdings brought its own claim to 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Ailsworth 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 Warwick.
Origin & History of the Ailsworth Family in England
The family name Ailsworth carries a deep connection to the English landscape, specifically within the historic county of Warwickshire. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were already established in the town of Warwick. The name itself likely originated as a locative surname, meaning it was derived from a specific place or settlement known as Ailsworth. In Old English, such names often combined a personal name with the suffix "worth," which referred to an enclosed homestead or a protected piece of land. Families living in or near these early settlements frequently adopted the location as their own identifier to distinguish themselves from others in the region. As these individuals moved through the bustling market town of Warwick, they helped weave the family name into the local history of the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aethelweard
Old English elements meaning noble and guardian or protector.
This name
AilsworthDerived from a place name meaning the enclosure or estate belonging to Aethelweard.
also spelled
Ailsworth
Ailsworthe
Ayleswirth
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Warwickshire County Record Office, Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
