Map of England showing where the Dover arms are recorded
The Dover arms were recorded in Hants, c. 1620.
Hampshire had the naval dockyards at Portsmouth on one side and good farmland on the other. Sea money and land money both bought estates, and an estate was what brought a family its 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 Dover 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 Hants.
Origin & History of the Dover Family in England
The surname Dover is a locational name that originated from people who lived near the famous coastal town of Dover in Kent. As families moved across England during the seventeenth century, they carried this name to new regions, including the county of Hampshire. By 1620, records indicate that members of the Dover family were already well-established in Hants, where they likely worked as farmers or tradespeople. During this period, families often moved to find better land or new economic opportunities, and the presence of the Dover name in Hampshire suggests that the family had successfully integrated into the local community within a generation or two of their migration from the south coast. This early movement reflects the broader patterns of internal migration that helped shape the distribution of English surnames during the early modern era.
Dover Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Dubr
A Brythonic Celtic word meaning water.
This name
DoverRefers to a person living near the waters or the town of Dover.
also spelled
Dovre
Dovar
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
Hampshire Archives and Local Studies, Hampshire Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cinquefoilHope and joy
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cinquefoilHope and joy
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
