A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cubit family of England.
Reg. 6475 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Erm. a lion's head erased az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Cubit Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Cubit arms are recorded
The Cubit 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 Cubit 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 Cubit Family in England
The surname Cubit is an English locational name that likely originated from individuals living near a specific landmark or small settlement. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Cubit family were living in this region by 1620, a time when York served as a major center for trade and religious administration in Northern England. During this period, families often took their names from the geography of their surroundings or their specific occupations within the local community. As the family grew, they became integrated into the social and economic life of the city, contributing to the local workforce and the evolving history of the Yorkshire area.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
cubitus
Latin term referring to the elbow or a measure of length.
This name
CubitAn occupational name for a person who measured cloth or land using the forearm.
also spelled
Cubet
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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
