A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dilkes family of England.
Reg. 5406 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Sa. on a bend or, an anchor of the first”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Dilkes Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Dilkes arms are recorded
The Dilkes 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 Dilkes 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 Dilkes Family in England
The family name Dilkes is rooted in the historic landscape of Northern England, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of York as early as 1620. The name likely originated as a locative surname, which was a common practice in the Middle Ages to identify individuals by the specific village or geographic feature where they resided. In the dialect of the region, the name may have evolved from an older term describing a person who lived near a specific type of valley or a patch of cultivated land. By the seventeenth century, the Dilkes family had established themselves as part of the urban fabric of York, a city that served as a major center for trade and administration. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local community, participating in the daily life and economic activities that defined this ancient northern stronghold.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dill
A nickname derived from the Old English word for the herb dill.
This name
DilkesA patronymic or locative surname indicating a descendant of someone nicknamed Dill or from a place associated with it.
also spelled
Dylkes
Related arms
Dylkesvariant spelling
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. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
