A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Crown family of England.
Reg. 3745 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Quarterly, sa. and az. a cross engr. or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Crown Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Crown arms are recorded
The Crown 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 Crown 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 Crown Family in England
The surname Crown is a topographic name that likely originated as a descriptive label for individuals who lived near a specific landmark or held a position of local authority. In the context of early seventeenth-century England, the family was well-established in the city of York by 1620. During this period, York was a major northern hub for trade and administration, and families living there were often involved in the city’s thriving merchant guilds or local craft industries. Because surnames were still becoming standardized during this era, the name may have been used to identify someone who resided near an inn or a building marked by a crown sign. This connection to the urban landscape of York suggests that the early members of the family were likely integrated into the social and economic life of the city as it transitioned through the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Corona
Latin term for a garland, wreath, or royal crown.
This name
CrownAn occupational name for a crown maker or someone who lived at a house with a crown sign.
also spelled
Crone
Croon
Related arms
Crone, or Clonevariant 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
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, Archbishop of York Diocesan Records
York City Archives, Freemen of the City of York Registers
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
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