A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dashwood family of England.
Reg. 0666 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ar. on a fess betw. two double cotises gu. three griffins' heads erased or”
EnglandWest Wycombe, c. 1620
Where the Dashwood Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Dashwood arms are recorded
The Dashwood arms were recorded in West Wycombe, 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 Dashwood 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 Dashwood Family in England
The surname Dashwood is a locative name, which means it originally described a person who lived near a specific geographical feature. The name is derived from the Old English words for an ash tree and a wood, suggesting that the earliest ancestors lived by a prominent grove of ash trees. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Dashwood family were established in the historic city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and administration in Northern England. Families living in the city at that time were often involved in the merchant guilds or the local legal professions that supported the regional government. As these early family members settled into urban life, they helped solidify the name within the local community, eventually spreading from their northern roots to other parts of the country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
daesc and wudu
Old English for ash tree and wood or forest.
This name
DashwoodA topographical name for someone who lived by a forest of ash trees.
also spelled
Dashwode
Deshwood
Related arms
Asseyrecorded with Dashwood, same area
Carrrecorded with Dashwood, same area
Crowfootrecorded with Dashwood, same area
Farrerecorded with Dashwood, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
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.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
