A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dive family of England.
Reg. 1536 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Gu. a fesse dancettée betw. three escallops erm”
BedfordBromham · Bedford, c. 1620
Where the Dive Arms Were Recorded
Bedford
Map of England showing where the Dive arms are recorded
The Dive arms were recorded in Bedford, c. 1620.
Bedfordshire was small, flat farming country close to London. Its manors were held by middling families rather than great ones, but a manor was a manor, and holding one brought 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 Dive 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 Bedford.
Origin & History of the Dive Family in England
The family name Dive has deep roots in the English county of Bedfordshire, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. The name itself likely originated as a topographic surname, which was a common way to identify people based on the landscape where they resided. Historians believe the name is linked to the Old English word "dyfe," which referred to a low-lying area or a hollow. During the seventeenth century, families in Bedford were often tied to the local agricultural economy, and the Dive name would have helped distinguish them within their parish community. As the family grew, they became part of the fabric of Bedfordshire life, maintaining a presence in the region that spanned generations. By settling in this specific area, the early members of the Dive family helped establish a lasting legacy that remains connected to the history of the English Midlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Divus
Latin term meaning divine, godlike, or celestial.
This name
DiveA locative surname derived from the village of Dive in Calvados, France.
also spelled
Dyve
Dyvee
Related arms
Dyvevariant spelling
Bayntun-Roltrecorded with Dive, same area
Hewesrecorded with Dive, same area
Lewhiterecorded with Dive, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
