Map of England showing where the Cloud arms are recorded
The Cloud arms were recorded in Notts, 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 Cloud 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 Cloud Family in England
The family name Cloud is rooted in the landscape and linguistic traditions of medieval England. It is classified as a topographic surname, which means it was originally used to describe a person who lived near a prominent natural feature. The name likely derives from the Old English word "clud," which refers to a hill, a rocky outcrop, or a mass of stone. By the time members of the family were documented in York in 1620, the name had already been established for generations as a way to identify individuals by their proximity to specific terrain. During this period, the family was part of the growing urban population in Northern England, where they participated in the local trade and social life of the city. Their presence in York reflects the broader movement of families from rural areas into established administrative and commercial centers during the early seventeenth century.
Cloud Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Clud
Old English term for a hill, rock, or mass of stone.
This name
CloudA topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent hill or rocky outcrop.
also spelled
Clude
Clud
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, Percy Hide and Wilson, Richard Middlewood, A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
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.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
