A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dickens family of England.
Reg. 9748 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Erm. on a cross patonce sa. a leopard's head issuing out of a ducal coronet or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Dickens Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Dickens arms are recorded
The Dickens 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 Dickens 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 Dickens Family in England
The surname Dickens is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of Dick. During the Middle Ages, Dick was a very common nickname for the name Richard. The name evolved over time as families began to adopt permanent surnames to distinguish themselves in growing communities. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Dickens family were well established in the city of York. At that time, York was a major center for trade and religion in Northern England. Families living there were often involved in the local craft guilds or the busy mercantile life of the city. As the generations passed, the name spread from these urban centers into the surrounding countryside, eventually becoming a recognized part of English family history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Richard
A Germanic name composed of elements meaning brave and powerful ruler.
This name
DickensA patronymic surname derived from a diminutive form of the name Richard.
also spelled
Dickins
Dykens
Related arms
Dickinsvariant spelling
Dikensvariant spelling
Stanierrecorded with Dickens, same area
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
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
