A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Argentine family of England.
Reg. 4332 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 covered cups ar”
CambridgeCambridge, c. 1297
Where the Argentine Arms Were Recorded
Cambridge
Map of England showing where the Argentine arms are recorded
The Argentine arms were recorded in Cambridge, c. 1297.
Cambridgeshire was flat, rich farming country with the university at its centre. Fen drainage made new land and new fortunes, and families who gained by it bought manors and took arms to match.
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.
Edward I of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward I of England
1272–1307
Reigning in England when the Argentine 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 Cambridge.
Origin & History of the Argentine Family in England
The surname Argentine traces its roots to the Norman Conquest, originating from the French town of Argentan in Normandy. By the late thirteenth century, the family had firmly established itself in England, with records confirming their presence in Cambridge by 1297. During this period, the family held significant social standing and served in various administrative and military roles within the region. They were deeply integrated into the local governance of Cambridgeshire, often acting as landowners who managed estates and participated in the legal affairs of the county. Their transition from continental origins to English county life highlights the broader movement of families who helped shape the political and social landscape of medieval England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Argentum
A Latin term referring to the precious metal silver.
This name
ArgentineAn occupational or descriptive name for someone associated with silver, likely a silversmith or merchant.
also spelled
Argentyne
Related arms
Argentynevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Cam, Helen M., The Hundred and the Hundred Rolls: An Outline of Local Government in Medieval England, 1930
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Inquisitions Post Mortem, Edward I, Series C 133
Cambridgeshire Archives, Records of the Argentine Family of Horseheath, Series 588/Z
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cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
