A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Albemarle family of England.
Reg. 2244 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
vairProtection, and the winter fur
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
VairMeans: Protection
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)
“Gu. a cross patonce vair”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Albemarle Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Albemarle arms are recorded
The Albemarle arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Albemarle 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 England.
Origin & History of the Albemarle Family in England
The name Albemarle originates from a place in Normandy, France, known as Aumale. During the Middle Ages, the title of Count of Albemarle was a significant rank held by powerful noble families who held lands on both sides of the English Channel. By the early 17th century, the name had transitioned from a strictly aristocratic title into a surname used by various families living in England. Records confirm that members of the family were established in the city of York by 1620, where they lived as part of the local community. These early settlers in Yorkshire were likely drawn to the city due to its importance as a regional center for trade and administration. Over time, the family name became firmly rooted in Northern England, reflecting the broader movement of people and names across the country during the Stuart period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aube
Derived from the Latin albus meaning white.
This name
AlbemarleRefers to the white river or the town of Aube in Normandy.
also spelled
Aumale
Aubemarle
Related arms
Aubemarlevariant spelling
Awbmarlevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Cokayne, George Edward. The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct, or Dormant. 1910
Reaney, Percy Hide. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. Archbishop of York Diocesan Records
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
