A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dawes family of England.
Reg. 2276 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. on a bend wavy az. three swans of the field”
Englandc. 1611
Where the Dawes Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Dawes arms are recorded
The Dawes arms were recorded in England, c. 1611.
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 Dawes 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 Dawes Family in England
The surname Dawes originated in England as a patronymic name, which means it was derived from the given name of a father or ancestor. It is a variation of the name Daw, which served as a common medieval nickname for David. By adding the letter s to the end, the name indicated that a person was the son or descendant of Daw. While the family name spread across various regions of England, records confirm that members of the Dawes family were established in the city of York by 1611. During this period, families often lived in the same geographic area for generations, working in local trades or agriculture. The name became a permanent way to identify these family lines as they grew and moved throughout the country over the following centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
David
A Hebrew name meaning beloved or friend.
This name
DawesA patronymic surname meaning son of David.
also spelled
Daws
Dawse
Related arms
Dawsvariant spelling
Adamsrecorded with Dawes, same area
Bedon, or Bedorecorded with Dawes, same area
Bigsbyrecorded with Dawes, 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
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1611
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
