A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cumberland family of England.
Reg. 1859 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. a chev. sa. in chief three wolves' heads erased of the second”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Cumberland Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Cumberland arms are recorded
The Cumberland 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 Cumberland 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 Cumberland Family in England
The surname Cumberland is a locative name, meaning it was originally adopted by people to identify their place of origin. It is derived from the historic county of Cumberland in North West England, which was once part of the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde. The name itself translates to the land of the Cymry, referring to the Brittonic-speaking people who lived in the region during the early Middle Ages. By the year 1620, records confirm that family members were established in the city of York. This suggests that the family had migrated eastward from their ancestral northern home to participate in the growing trade and urban life of the Yorkshire region. Over time, as these individuals moved away from the county of their birth, the name served as a permanent reminder of their geographic roots.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cumbri
Refers to the ancient Brythonic people of the region.
This name
CumberlandDenotes someone who originated from the region of Cumberland, meaning land of the Cumbrians.
also spelled
Cumberlend
Cumberlond
Related arms
Arglesrecorded with Cumberland, same area
Buckminsterrecorded with Cumberland, same area
Davysrecorded with Cumberland, same area
Gontonrecorded with Cumberland, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
