Map of England showing where the Althouse arms are recorded
The Althouse arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Althouse 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Althouse Family in England
The Althouse family name has roots that trace back to the early seventeenth century in the English county of Suffolk. During this period, the name was closely associated with the rural landscape and the agricultural traditions of East Anglia. Families bearing this name were part of a time of great social change as many individuals began to look toward the Atlantic for new opportunities. The name itself suggests a connection to a specific dwelling or a "high house," which likely identified the family’s original homestead or their social standing within their local village. By 1620, these early ancestors were well established in Suffolk, living through a time when record-keeping began to capture the daily lives of common citizens in parish registers and local tax rolls. This period marked the beginning of a long history for the family, as they transitioned from their English origins into the broader movements of the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Old High German alt and hus
Old or ancient combined with a dwelling or house.
This name
AlthouseA topographic name for someone who lived in an old or ancient house.
also spelled
Aldhowse
Aldhus
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Smith, Alan, The Suffolk Landscape, 1970
Suffolk Archives, Parish Registers of Suffolk, 1600–1650
The National Archives, Lay Subsidy Rolls for the County of Suffolk, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
