A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dowman family of England.
Reg. 1005 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. on a fesse dancettée or, three martlets sa”
YorkYork, c. 1620
Where the Dowman Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Dowman arms are recorded
The Dowman arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Dowman 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 York.
Origin & History of the Dowman Family in England
The surname Dowman is rooted in the medieval tradition of descriptive occupational names, likely originating from the Old English words for a servant or a person who worked for a man named Dow. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Dowman family were living in this region by 1620, a time when York served as a vital center for trade and religious administration in Northern England. These early ancestors were often integrated into the local urban community, participating in the civic and social life of the city during the transition into the Stuart period. As the family grew, they became part of the fabric of York’s long history, leaving behind traces of their lives in parish registers and local administrative documents that reflect the steady expansion of families in English market towns.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dōm
Old English term for judgment, decree, or law.
This name
DowmanA person who served as a judge or official in a local court.
also spelled
Doweman
Dowmon
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Archives: Parish Registers of York, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
