A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Coulthurst family of England.
Reg. 7940 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
horseReadiness to serve king and country
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Sa. two horses pass. ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Coulthurst Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Coulthurst arms are recorded
The Coulthurst 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 Coulthurst 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 Coulthurst Family in England
The surname Coulthurst is a locational name that originated in the northern regions of England. It is derived from Old English words that describe a specific piece of land, likely referring to a wooded hill or a clearing near a stream. By the early 17th century, members of the family were well-established in the city of York. Records from 1620 confirm their presence in this historic hub, where they likely participated in the local trade and civic life that defined the city during the Stuart period. As the family grew, they moved through the surrounding countryside of Yorkshire, leaving behind a legacy tied to the geography and the developing social structures of northern England. Their history reflects the typical migration patterns of families who moved from rural settlements into growing urban centers to seek new opportunities in commerce and administration.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Colt-hyrst
A wooded hill or thicket inhabited by young male horses.
This name
CoulthurstDerived from a topographical location featuring a wooded hill associated with young horses.
also spelled
Colthurst
Related arms
Colthurstvariant spelling
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
Smith, Albert Hugh, The Place-Names of the West Riding of Yorkshire, 1961
The National Archives, Kew, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, 1620
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horseReadiness to serve king and country
horseReadiness to serve king and country
