A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Alms family of England.
Reg. 7753 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. three stags' heads erased or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Alms Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Alms arms are recorded
The Alms 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 Alms 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 Alms Family in England
The surname Alms is rooted in the social and linguistic landscape of Northern England, with distinct records placing the family in the city of York as early as 1620. The name likely originated as a descriptive occupational or status-based identifier, potentially linked to the Middle English word "almesse," which refers to charitable gifts given to the poor. In the seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religious activity, and families living there were often integrated into the city’s guild systems or parish structures. During this period, the spelling of surnames was not yet standardized, meaning the name may have appeared in various forms in local church registers and tax rolls. By establishing themselves in a major urban hub like York, early members of the Alms family were part of a growing class of citizens who contributed to the economic and civic life of the region during the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
almosina
Latin term for charitable gift or pity.
This name
AlmsA surname historically denoting a person who received or distributed charitable donations.
also spelled
Almes
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 Library and Archives, Parish Registers of York, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
