Map of England showing where the Claiborne arms are recorded
The Claiborne 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 Claiborne 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 Claiborne Family in England
The Claiborne family name traces its roots back to the northern regions of England, where it was originally associated with the manor of Cleburne in Westmorland. The name itself is derived from Old English terms describing a stream or brook located near clay soil. By the early seventeenth century, members of the family became significant figures in the expansion of the English colonies in North America. William Claiborne, who was born in Westmorland, arrived in Virginia in 1621. He served as a surveyor and a member of the Governor’s Council, and he is well known for establishing a trading post on Kent Island in the Chesapeake Bay. His early presence in the region helped shape the political and economic landscape of the Virginia colony during its formative years. The family remained influential in colonial administration and land development for several generations as they helped establish the foundations of the new society.
Claiborne Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Cleburne
A stream or brook located near a clay-rich area.
This name
ClaiborneDerived from a place name in North Yorkshire referring to a clay-bottomed stream.
also spelled
Colyborn
Colyborne
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Dorman, John Frederick. Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1624/5. 2004
Haynie, Miriam. The Stronghold: A Story of Historic Northern Neck of Virginia and Its People. 1959
Library of Virginia, Colonial Records, Land Office Patents and Grants
The National Archives (UK), State Papers Colonial, Series CO 1
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cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
