A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Allyson family of England.
Reg. 1046 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bordureA difference between branches of one family
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. a fess. gu. betw. three birds sa. a border of the last”
CumberlandPardsey Hall · Cumberland, c. 1615
Where the Allyson Arms Were Recorded
Cumberland
Map of England showing where the Allyson arms are recorded
The Allyson arms were recorded in Cumberland, c. 1615.
Cumberland was rough border country in the north-west, facing Scotland across a disputed line. Its families held land in return for keeping it defended, and men who fought carried shields of their own.
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 Allyson 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 Cumberland.
Origin & History of the Allyson Family in England
The family name Allyson traces its roots to the northern English county of Cumberland, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1615. The name itself functions as a patronymic, which means it was originally formed by adding a suffix to a father’s given name. In this case, Allyson evolved as a variation of "Alice’s son," reflecting a naming tradition that honored the maternal line. During the early seventeenth century, families in this rugged border region often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities. These early Allysons were likely involved in the local agricultural economy, as the geography of Cumberland was defined by its pastoral landscape and traditional farming practices. Over time, the spelling of the name shifted as it passed through generations, eventually settling into the form recognized today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alice
Derived from the Old French Adelais meaning of noble kin.
This name
AllysonA patronymic surname meaning son of Alice or son of the noble one.
also spelled
Allison
Allieson
Alison
Related arms
Alisonvariant spelling
Allieson, or Allisonvariant spelling
Allisonvariant 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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bordureA difference between branches of one family
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bordureA difference between branches of one family
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
