A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Amherst family of England.
Reg. 1283 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lanceKnightly service and the tilt
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 tilting spears two and one erect or, points ar”
KentEast Farleigh · Kent, c. 1607
Where the Amherst Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Amherst arms are recorded
The Amherst arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1607.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 Amherst 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Amherst Family in England
The Amherst family name is deeply rooted in the landscape of Kent, England, where members of the lineage were firmly established by the early seventeenth century. The name itself is topographical in origin, likely derived from the Old English words for a wooded valley or a homestead located near a specific clearing. By 1607, the family had become well-integrated into the local society of the Weald of Kent, a region known for its dense forests and iron-working history. During this period, the Amhersts were typically associated with the landed gentry and yeoman classes, managing agricultural estates and participating in local governance. Their presence in Kent during the reign of King James I suggests that the family had already spent generations cultivating their ties to the region, eventually rising to prominence through their involvement in military service and colonial administration in the centuries that followed.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Amherst
Derived from the Old English words for eagle and wood or forest.
This name
AmherstRefers to a person who lived near a wooded area frequented by eagles.
also spelled
Amherste
Amhurst
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Hasted, Edward. The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. 1797
Phillimore, W.P.W. Kent Parish Registers. 1910
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lanceKnightly service and the tilt
lanceKnightly service and the tilt
