Map of England showing where the Alp arms are recorded
The Alp arms were recorded in Norfolk, c. 1620.
Norfolk grew rich on wool and grain, and its wealth was spread among many middling families rather than a few great ones. Households of that kind bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Alp 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 Norfolk.
Origin & History of the Alp Family in England
The family name Alp is rooted in the landscape of East Anglia, with historical records confirming the presence of the family in Norfolk by the early seventeenth century. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a locative term, possibly derived from the Old English word for the bullfinch, a bird known for its distinct appearance in the English countryside. During the 1600s, families in Norfolk were often deeply connected to the local agricultural economy and the growing trade networks of the region. As the family established itself in the county, they became part of the fabric of rural life, participating in parish activities and local commerce. By the time the name appears in formal documents in 1620, the Alp family was already well-integrated into the social structure of Norfolk, reflecting the patterns of migration and settlement common among English families of that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aethelred
Old English elements meaning noble and counsel.
This name
AlpA locative or patronymic surname derived from the Old English personal name Aethelred.
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Rye, Walter, A Calendar of the Feet of Fines for Norfolk, 1885
Norfolk Record Office, Parish Register Transcripts, PD 45/1
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, PROB 11/156
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
