Map of England showing where the De la More arms are recorded
The De la More arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1574.
Oxfordshire was farming country with the university at its centre, and both produced families of standing. Scholars and lawyers who did well bought manors nearby, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the De la More 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 Oxford.
Origin & History of the De la More Family in England
The name De la More is a locative surname, which means it was originally used to describe someone who lived near a moor or a stretch of open, uncultivated land. During the medieval period, families often adopted these descriptive names to distinguish themselves from others in their local community. By the time the family appeared in Oxford records in 1574, they had likely been established in the region for several generations. Living in a university town like Oxford suggests that these early family members were part of a growing class of tradespeople or scholars who were becoming increasingly important to the city’s economy. As the family settled into urban life, the name evolved from a simple geographical description into a permanent identifier that linked them to their ancestral roots in the English countryside.
De la More Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mora
Latin term for a moor, wasteland, or marshy area.
This name
De la MoreRefers to someone who lived near or on a moor or heath.
also spelled
Delamoor
Related arms
Belletrecorded with De la More, same area
Bellotrecorded with De la More, same area
Corbetrecorded with De la More, same area
Framptonrecorded with De la More, same area
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
Oxfordshire Archives, Oxford City Council Records: Records of the Freemen of the City of Oxford, 1574
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
