Map of England showing where the Douthit arms are recorded
The Douthit 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 England when the Douthit 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 Douthit Family in England
The family name Douthit is rooted in the northern regions of England, with historical records placing members of the family in the city of York as early as 1620. The name likely originated as a locational surname, which was a common practice in medieval England to identify people by the specific village or geographic feature where they lived. Linguists suggest the name may be derived from Old English or Old Norse terms describing a specific hollow or a low-lying piece of land. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric in Yorkshire, working in various trades and contributing to the development of the region. Over the following centuries, the name evolved in spelling as it moved across different counties and eventually crossed the Atlantic to the American colonies, where it became established in the frontier territories of the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Douthwaite
A clearing or meadow located in a valley or hollow.
This name
DouthitDerived from Old Norse elements referring to a dweller in a valley clearing.
also spelled
Douthwayte
Douthwate
Douthwite
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
York City Archives, York Freemen’s Register, 1272–1759
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
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
