A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Allenson family of England.
Reg. 0653 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Sa. a fesse erm. betw. three talbots pass. or, over all a sinister bendlet”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Allenson Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Allenson arms are recorded
The Allenson 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 Allenson 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 Allenson Family in England
The surname Allenson is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify an individual as the son of someone named Allen. By the early 17th century, the name had established a firm presence in the historic city of York, England. During this period, York served as a major center for trade and religious life in the north, and families like the Allensons were often involved in the local merchant guilds or the skilled trades that kept the city running. Because the city was a hub for record-keeping, early members of the family appear in parish registers and legal documents that track their baptisms, marriages, and business dealings. These records show that the family lived through a time of significant social change in England, moving from the late Elizabethan era into the political unrest of the 1600s. By settling in a prominent urban center like York, the early Allensons were part of a growing class of citizens who helped define the city's identity for generations to come.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alan
A Celtic name of uncertain origin, possibly meaning little rock or handsome.
This name
AllensonA patronymic surname meaning son of Alan, reflecting ancestral heritage from the British Isles.
also spelled
Allanson
Allaunson
Allaunsun
Related arms
Allansonvariant spelling
Allaunsonvariant spelling
Allaunsunvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
York Minster Archives, Parish Registers of York St. Michael le Belfrey, 1600–1650
York City Archives, Freemen of the City of York, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
