A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dolman family of England.
Reg. 2280 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. seven garbs or, four, two, and one”
BerksShaw · Berks, c. 1587
Where the Dolman Arms Were Recorded
Berks
Map of England showing where the Dolman arms are recorded
The Dolman arms were recorded in Berks, c. 1587.
Berkshire sat on the road west from London with the royal castle at Windsor in the middle of it. Court families bought estates within reach, and an estate near the court almost always came with a coat of 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Dolman 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 Berks.
Origin & History of the Dolman Family in England
The surname Dolman is rooted in the occupational and geographical history of medieval England. It is generally understood to be a topographic name, likely derived from the Old English words "dole" and "man," which together described someone who lived near a shared piece of land or a portion of a field. By the late sixteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Berkshire. Records from 1587 confirm that members of the Dolman family were active landowners and residents in this region during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Over time, the family integrated into the local social structure, moving from their original agricultural associations to become involved in the administrative and civic life of the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
dole
A portion or share of land distributed to an individual.
This name
DolmanA person who lived by or worked on a distributed portion of land.
also spelled
Doleman
Related arms
Andrewsrecorded with Dolman, same area
Egertonrecorded with Dolman, same area
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., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Berkshire Record Office, Quarter Sessions Records, 1587
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
