A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dowis family of England.
Reg. 6370 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Or, on a bend betw. two lions ramp. az. three martlets (another, doves) ar”
EssexEssex, c. 1620
Where the Dowis Arms Were Recorded
Essex
Map of England showing where the Dowis arms are recorded
The Dowis arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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 Dowis 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Dowis Family in England
The surname Dowis is rooted in the historical landscape of Essex, England, where records confirm the presence of the family as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, the region was a center of agricultural activity and textile production, which likely shaped the daily lives of these early ancestors. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older occupational or locational surnames common in East Anglia, reflecting the way families were identified by their neighbors in small rural parishes. As the family established itself in Essex, they became part of the local social fabric, participating in the community life of a region that was then experiencing significant economic and religious change. Over time, the spelling of the name evolved through local usage and the phonetic recording practices of parish clerks, eventually stabilizing into the form recognized today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dowe
A Middle English term for a dove or a gentle person.
This name
DowisA patronymic surname derived from the given name Dowe, signifying a descendant of the dove.
also spelled
Dowis
Dowys
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Essex Record Office, Parish Registers of Essex, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
