A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Blackmore family of England.
Reg. 8190 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Or, on a fesse betw. three Moors' heads in profile couped sa. as many crescents ar”
DevonBishops Nympton · Devon, c. 1620
Where the Blackmore Arms Were Recorded
Devon
Map of England showing where the Blackmore arms are recorded
The Blackmore arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought 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 Blackmore 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Blackmore Family in England
The surname Blackmore is a classic example of a topographical name, which means it was originally chosen to describe the physical landscape where a family lived. The name is derived from the Old English words "blæc," meaning black, and "mor," meaning a moor or marshy wasteland. It likely identified people who resided near a dark, peat-filled moor or a patch of land covered in dark vegetation. By the early 17th century, the family had established a firm presence in the county of Devon in southwest England. This region provided a rugged environment that suited the name, as the landscape is defined by its vast, rolling hills and expansive moorlands. Families bearing this name were often tied to the local agricultural economy, working the land and integrating into the rural communities that defined life in Devon during the reign of King James I.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Blaec and Mor
Old English words for dark or black and a moor or fen.
This name
BlackmoreA topographic name for someone who lived near a dark-colored moor or marshland.
also spelled
Blackmoor
Blackmur
Blakemore
Related arms
Blakemoresame arms
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Hoskins, W.G., Devon, 1954
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills and other probate records, 1384–1858
Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Parish registers for the Diocese of Exeter, 1538–1900
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
