A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dodsworth family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5781 · Britain, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à la bande engr. de gu., acc. de trois annelets du même, 2 en chef accostées et 1 en p. (Dodsworth); aux 2 et 3 éc. en saut., d'arg. à un trèfle de gu., et de sa. plein (Smith). Deux cq., le 2 cour. C.: 1° un avant-bras, en pal, revêtu de mailles d'or, la main de carn. tenant une lance de tournoi brisée d'or, ensanglantée de gu. (Dodsworth); 2° une hure et col de sanglier d'azur, posée en pal, le boutoir en haut (Smith). D.: PRO LEGE SENATUQUE REGE.”
YorkshireYorkshire, c. 1700
Where the Dodsworth Arms Were Recorded
Yorkshire
Map of Britain showing where the Dodsworth arms are recorded
The Dodsworth arms were recorded in Yorkshire, c. 1700.
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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Dodsworth arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Yorkshire.
Origin & History of the Dodsworth Family in Britain
The surname Dodsworth originated as a locative name, meaning it was derived from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name refers to a settlement known as Dodsworth, which is located near Barnsley in the historic West Riding of Yorkshire. In Old English, the name likely translates to the homestead or enclosure belonging to a man named Dodda. By the time the family was firmly established in Yorkshire in the 1700s, they were part of a long tradition of families who took their identity from the land where they lived. These early ancestors were often tied to the local agricultural economy, and as the centuries passed, the name spread from its small village origins to become a recognized part of the regional history of Northern England.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. a chev. betw. three buglehorns stringed sa”
YorkYork, c. 1620
Where the Dodsworth Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Dodsworth arms are recorded
The Dodsworth arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Britain when the Dodsworth 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 York.
Origin & History of the Dodsworth Family in England
The surname Dodsworth originated as a locative name, meaning it was derived from a specific place rather than an occupation or a personal trait. The name refers to a settlement known as Dodsworth, which is located near Barnsley in the West Riding of Yorkshire. In the early seventeenth century, the family established a significant presence in the city of York, where they became deeply integrated into the local culture and administration. By 1620, members of the family were already well-regarded figures in the region, contributing to the historical and social fabric of Northern England. This connection to the landscape of Yorkshire remained a defining feature of the family identity as they moved from their ancestral village into the growing urban centers of the north.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dodda
An Old English personal name meaning rounded or plump.
This name
DodsworthRefers to the enclosure or settlement belonging to a man named Dodda.
also spelled
Dodsworthe
Doddesworth
Dodswurth
Related arms
Doddesworthvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names. 1960
Smith, A.H. The Place-Names of the West Riding of Yorkshire. 1961
The National Archives, UK. Court of Common Pleas: Plea Rolls, CP 40
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
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
