A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Den family of England.
Reg. 0787 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. two bars sa. each charged with three crosses pattée or”
HuntingdonHuntingdon, c. 1620
Where the Den Arms Were Recorded
Huntingdon
Map of England showing where the Den arms are recorded
The Den arms were recorded in Huntingdon, c. 1620.
Huntingdonshire was small, flat fen-edge country. Drainage made new farmland and new fortunes, and families who gained by it bought manors and took arms to match.
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 Den 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 Huntingdon.
Origin & History of the Den Family in England
The surname Den is a topographic name that likely originated from individuals who lived near a wooded valley or a deep hollow, as the word itself is an Old English term for such a landscape. By the early seventeenth century, members of the Den family were firmly established in the town of Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. During this period, Huntingdon was a bustling market town that served as a vital hub for local trade and administration. The presence of the family in this specific region suggests they were part of the growing class of English citizens who were deeply rooted in the local community life of the East Midlands. As the family settled into this area, they became part of the historical fabric of Huntingdon during a time of significant social and political change in England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dene
Old English word for a valley or a wooded hollow.
This name
DenA topographic name for someone who lived in or near a valley.
also spelled
Denne
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1991
The National Archives, Probate records of the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
