A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Atterbury family of England.
Reg. 1578 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
vairProtection, and the winter fur
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
VairMeans: Protection
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Paly of eight or and sa. a chief vair”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Atterbury Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Atterbury arms are recorded
The Atterbury arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Atterbury 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 England.
Origin & History of the Atterbury Family in England
The surname Atterbury is a locative name, meaning it originally described where a person lived. It comes from the Old English words "at the" and "burh," which translates to someone who lived near a fortified town or a manor house. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Atterbury family were established in the historic city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and religion in Northern England. Families living in such cities often held roles as merchants, craftsmen, or local officials. Because the name was tied to a specific type of landscape, it likely emerged independently in different parts of England before becoming a fixed family name. The presence of the family in York suggests they were part of the stable urban population that helped shape the city’s development during the early seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Atte Burgh
Middle English phrase meaning at the fortified town or manor.
This name
AtterburyA topographic name for someone who lived near a fortified settlement or castle.
also spelled
Atberrie
Atbury
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
