A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Canterbury family of England.
Reg. 3841 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Az. an episcopal staff in pale or, ensigned with a cross pattée ar. surmounted of a pall of the last charged with four crosses formée-fitchée sa. edged and fringed, gold”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Canterbury Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Canterbury arms are recorded
The Canterbury 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 Canterbury 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 Canterbury Family in England
The surname Canterbury is a locative name, meaning it was originally adopted by individuals to identify their place of origin as the city of Canterbury in Kent. While the name is famously tied to this southern cathedral city, historical records confirm that members of the family had migrated northward by the early seventeenth century. By 1620, the family was well-established in York, a city with a rich history as a northern center of trade and religion. This movement suggests that early family members were likely part of the internal migration patterns that saw people moving between major English urban hubs for work or religious reasons. Over time, the name transitioned from a simple geographical descriptor into a permanent family identifier that persisted even as the family moved far from their ancestral home in the south.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cantwaraburh
Old English for the stronghold of the people of Kent.
This name
CanterburyRefers to a person originating from the city of Canterbury in Kent, England.
also spelled
Cantebury
Cantbury
Canterbery
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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
cross symbolChristian faith and service
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
