A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dimsdale family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7359 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la fasce vivrée d'azur, ch. de trois bes. d'or et acc. de trois étoiles de sa. Sur le tout d'or à un demi-vol de sa. C.: une tête et col de griffon d'herm.”
HertfordshireHertfordshire, c. 1762
Where the Dimsdale Arms Were Recorded
Map of France showing where the Dimsdale arms are recorded
The Dimsdale arms were recorded in Hertfordshire, c. 1762.
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 France in this period.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Dimsdale arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Hertfordshire.
Origin & History of the Dimsdale Family in France
The surname Dimsdale is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, though its linguistic origins suggest a connection to the movement of people across the English Channel following the Norman Conquest. While the family became firmly established in Hertfordshire by the mid-eighteenth century, the name itself is topographical, likely derived from an Old English term meaning a valley belonging to a person named Dimm. This suggests that the family’s earliest ancestors were rural landowners or farmers who identified themselves by the specific geography of their home. As the name evolved, it traveled through the social shifts of the Middle Ages, eventually settling into the records of the English gentry. By the time the family appeared in official Hertfordshire documents in 1762, they had transitioned from local landholders into a prominent lineage known for their contributions to medicine and public life.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. on a fesse dancettée az. betw. three mullets sa. as many bezants, over all, on an inescutcheon of pretence or, a sinister wing erect sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Dimsdale Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Dimsdale arms are recorded
The Dimsdale 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 France when the Dimsdale 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 Dimsdale Family in England
The surname Dimsdale is a locative name, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. Etymologically, the name is derived from Old English roots that suggest a valley or a hollow belonging to a person named Dimm. While the family established a notable presence in the city of York by 1620, the name likely originated in the northern regions of England where such geographic descriptions were common for identifying local residents. During the early seventeenth century, families in York were often part of the growing merchant and professional classes that helped shape the city’s civic life. As the Dimsdale name moved through the generations, it transitioned from a simple way to identify a person from a specific valley into a stable family identity that persisted through the social and economic changes of early modern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dymmesdale
A valley belonging to a person named Dymme.
This name
DimsdaleDerived from a topographic location referring to a secluded valley or dale.
also spelled
Dymsdale
Dimsdal
Dinsdale
Dimsdall
Related arms
Meautysrecorded with Dimsdale, same area
Smithrecorded with Dimsdale, same area
Smythrecorded with Dimsdale, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Quarter Sessions Records, 1762
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
