Map of England showing where the Dewhirst arms are recorded
The Dewhirst arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 Dewhirst 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Dewhirst Family in England
The family name Dewhirst is a topographical surname that originated in the northern regions of England. It is derived from the Old English words "deaw," meaning dew, and "hyrst," which refers to a wooded hill or a thicket. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived near a prominent, dew-covered grove or a small forest clearing. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that the Dewhirst family was well-established in the county of Lancashire. During this period, families often settled in specific rural parishes where they worked the land or engaged in local trades. Because the name is tied to the physical landscape of the English countryside, it reflects the deep connection early ancestors had to their specific home territory in the north.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
de wihurst
Old English words for a wooded hill or a wooded valley.
This name
DewhirstA topographical name for someone who lived near a wooded hill or a clearing in a wood.
also spelled
Dewhirst
Dewhirste
Dewherst
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Lancashire Archives, Bishop's Transcripts of Parish Registers, 1620
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escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
