Map of England showing where the Conter arms are recorded
The Conter 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 Conter 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 Conter Family in England
The family name Conter has roots that trace back to the early seventeenth century in the historic city of York, England. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the family were established residents during this period of significant social and economic change. The name likely evolved from occupational or locational origins common in Northern England, where surnames were often adapted from the specific trade or the local geography associated with a person. Living in York, a major hub for trade and administration, the early Conter family would have been part of a vibrant urban community that navigated the challenges of the Stuart era. By settling in such a prominent city, these early ancestors helped anchor the name within the regional history of Yorkshire, where it remained a part of the local population for generations.
Conter Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Comte
Old French term for a count or a noble title holder.
This name
ConterAn occupational or status-based surname denoting someone who served a count or acted like one.
also spelled
Countre
Countar
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Account Rolls, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
