A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Card family of England.
Reg. 8413 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Erm. a demi lion couped az. collared or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Card Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Card arms are recorded
The Card 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 Card 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 Card Family in England
The family name Card has roots that stretch back to the northern regions of England, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the historic city of York by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname or an occupational term, as the word card was historically used to describe a tool for combing wool or flax. Families during this period often adopted names based on the specific trade they practiced, suggesting that early ancestors were likely skilled craftspeople involved in the textile industry. As the family established itself in York, they became part of the local social fabric during a time of significant economic change. Over the following decades, the name persisted through generations, reflecting the quiet but steady influence of families who contributed to the growth of English trade and community life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Carduus
A Latin term referring to a thistle or prickly plant.
This name
CardAn occupational name for a wool comber or a topographic name for someone living near thistles.
also spelled
Kard
Related arms
Brandrecorded with Card, same area
Colchesterrecorded with Card, same area
Gulstonrecorded with Card, same area
Harlowrecorded with Card, same area
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
