A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Calthorpe family of England.
Reg. 1823 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
ermineDignity and rank
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Az. a lion ramp. or, depressed by a bend sa. with an erm. spot ar. at top”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Calthorpe Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Calthorpe arms are recorded
The Calthorpe 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 Calthorpe 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 Calthorpe Family in England
The surname Calthorpe is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name is derived from the Old Norse words "kalf," meaning calf, and "thorp," meaning a small village or farmstead. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family likely settled in a village named Calthorpe, most notably in the county of Norfolk, before the name became a permanent family identifier. By the early 17th century, members of the family had established a presence in York, where they integrated into the local community. During this period, the family name was carried by individuals who were often involved in the social and economic life of northern England. As the family moved away from their ancestral village, the name remained a link to their origins in the rural landscapes of the medieval period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kaldr and thorp
Old Norse for cold and an outlying farmstead or village.
This name
CalthorpeRefers to a person who lived at a cold or exposed farmstead or settlement.
also spelled
Calthrop
Calthrope
Related arms
Calthropvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1960
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. Archbishop of York Diocesan Records
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
ermineDignity and rank
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
ermineDignity and rank
lionCourage, strength and royalty
