Map of England showing where the Dennington arms are recorded
The Dennington 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 Dennington 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 Dennington Family in England
The surname Dennington is a locative name, meaning it originally identified people by the place where they lived. It is derived from the Old English words for a farmstead or estate belonging to a person named Denna. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Dennington family were active participants in the social and economic life of this northern English hub. During this era, families in York often played vital roles in local trade guilds or parish administration. The move toward using fixed surnames helped families like the Denningtons maintain their identity as they settled into urban centers and contributed to the growth of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dene-tun
Old English for valley settlement or farmstead.
This name
DenningtonRefers to a person who originated from a settlement located in a valley.
also spelled
Donyngton
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
Hey, David, The Oxford Guide to Family History, 2002
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
The National Archives, Lay Subsidy Rolls for the County of York
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
