A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Crowder family of England.
Reg. 6265 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. a bend wavy vairé ar. and vert”
SurreyClapham · Surrey, c. 1620
Where the Crowder Arms Were Recorded
Surrey
Map of England showing where the Crowder arms are recorded
The Crowder arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1620.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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 Crowder 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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Crowder Family in England
The family name Crowder is an occupational surname that originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Middle English word "crowder," which referred to a person who played the crowd, an ancient stringed instrument similar to a fiddle. By the time members of the family were recorded in Surrey in 1620, the name had become well-established among the local population. During this period, the Crowders were likely part of the growing class of tradespeople and skilled workers who helped shape the social landscape of southern England. As the name spread from its early roots, it remained tied to the musical traditions and professional identities of those who first adopted it as a way to distinguish themselves within their communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crwth
A Celtic stringed musical instrument played with a bow.
This name
CrowderAn occupational surname for a professional player of the crwth or a fiddler.
also spelled
Crowdar
Related arms
Crowthervariant spelling
Bollandrecorded with Crowder, same area
Butterfieldrecorded with Crowder, same area
Dumasrecorded with Crowder, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
Surrey History Centre, Parish Register Transcripts for Surrey, 1620
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
