Map of England showing where the Devane arms are recorded
The Devane arms were recorded in Middlesex, c. 1620.
Middlesex was the county around London, and City money flowed straight into it. Merchants and officials bought estates within reach of the capital, and a new estate brought a coat of arms with it.
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 Devane 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 Middlesex.
Origin & History of the Devane Family in England
The family name Devane has roots that trace back to the Gaelic traditions of Ireland, where it evolved from the original form Ó Duibhín. This name is derived from the word dubh, which means black or dark, and it likely served as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor. By the early seventeenth century, members of the family had established a presence in Middlesex, England, during a period of significant migration and social change. These early settlers were part of a broader movement of people moving between Ireland and England for trade, military service, or labor. Living in Middlesex during the year 1620 placed the family in a central hub of activity near London, where they navigated the complex political and religious shifts of the Stuart era. Their presence in this region suggests that the family was integrated into the evolving urban landscape of seventeenth-century England while maintaining their distinct ancestral identity.
Devane Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Dubhán
Derived from the Gaelic word for little black one.
This name
DevaneAn Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Dubháin, signifying descendant of the little dark-haired one.
also spelled
Devanne
Devin
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
Woulfe, Patrick, Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames, 1923
The National Archives (UK), State Papers Domestic, James I, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
