A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Door family of England.
Reg. 1285 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Per pale gu. and az. three stag-beetles, wings extended, or”
DevonDevon, c. 1620
Where the Door Arms Were Recorded
Devon
Map of England showing where the Door arms are recorded
The Door arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Door 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Door Family in England
The family name Door likely originated as a locative surname, which was a common way to identify people in medieval England based on where they lived or worked. In the case of this name, it often referred to someone who lived near a prominent doorway, a gate, or the entrance to a fortified town. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Door family were well-established in the county of Devon. During this period, Devon was a hub of maritime activity and agricultural growth, suggesting that early ancestors were likely involved in the local trade or farming communities that defined the region. As families moved throughout the English countryside, the name became a permanent marker of their heritage, linking their identity to the physical structures and landscapes of their ancestral home in the West Country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dora
Derived from the Old English word for a gate or passage.
This name
DoorA topographic name for someone who lived near a gate or a door.
also spelled
Dore
Related arms
Dorevariant 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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, 1620
Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Devon Quarter Sessions 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.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
