A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dench family of England.
Reg. 6431 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Vert a saltire engr. betw. four crosses crosslet fitchée ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Dench Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Dench arms are recorded
The Dench 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 Dench 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 Dench Family in England
The surname Dench is a topographical name, which means it was originally used to describe where a person lived or the nature of the land they occupied. Etymologists believe the name is derived from the Old English word "dench," which was a regional variation used to describe someone who lived in a deep valley or a wooded hollow. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Dench family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, families in northern England often moved toward growing urban centers to participate in the expanding trade networks of the seventeenth century. As the family settled into city life, they transitioned from rural agricultural roots to becoming integrated members of the local community, eventually appearing in parish registers and municipal documents that track the growth of the city’s population.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dene
Old English word for a valley or a wooded hollow.
This name
DenchA topographic name for someone who lived in or near a valley.
also spelled
Densch
Dence
Denchey
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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Archives: Parish Registers of York, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
cross symbolChristian faith and service
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
cross symbolChristian faith and service
