Map of England showing where the Arrowsmith arms are recorded
The Arrowsmith 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 Arrowsmith 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 Arrowsmith Family in England
The surname Arrowsmith is an occupational name that originated in medieval England to describe a person who crafted arrows for hunting and warfare. During the Middle Ages, the production of arrows was a highly skilled trade requiring precision in shaping wood and attaching feathers and metal heads. As surnames became hereditary, families often adopted the name of their primary trade to distinguish themselves within their local communities. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Arrowsmith family were well-established in the county of Suffolk. This region was a center for trade and agriculture, providing a stable environment for families to pass down their specialized skills and their identifying name through several generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
arwe and smith
Old English for arrow and a metal worker or blacksmith.
This name
ArrowsmithAn occupational surname for a maker of arrows and arrowheads.
also spelled
Arrovrsmyth
Arrowsmith
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
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Suffolk Archives, Parish Register Transcripts for 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.
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
lionCourage, strength and royalty
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
lionCourage, strength and royalty
