A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Clarendon family of England.
Reg. 3204 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
feathersWilling obedience and serenity
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 bend sa. three ostrich feathers ar. passing through as many scrolls of the field (another, the scrolls ar.)”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Clarendon Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Clarendon arms are recorded
The Clarendon 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 Clarendon 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 Clarendon Family in England
The family name Clarendon is deeply rooted in the history of Northern England, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of York as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, York served as a vital hub for trade and administration, and families living there were often involved in the city’s bustling merchant guilds or local government. The name itself likely originated as a locative surname, meaning it was derived from a specific place or estate known as Clarendon. While the name is famously associated with the Earls of Clarendon in later British history, the branch of the family residing in York suggests a long-standing presence among the regional gentry or the professional classes of the North. These early ancestors lived through a time of significant religious and political change in England, which likely influenced their movement and social standing within the city walls.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Claro-dun
Derived from Old English words for clear or bright and hill.
This name
ClarendonRefers to a location situated on a clear, bright, or famous hill.
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
Raine, Angelo, Mediaeval York: A Topographical Survey Based on Original Sources, 1955
York City Archives, House Books of the City of York, 1620
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
feathersWilling obedience and serenity
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
feathersWilling obedience and serenity
