A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Downe family of England.
Reg. 0883 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. a bend or, charged in dexter chief with an annulet gu”
LeicesterLeicester, c. 1619
Where the Downe Arms Were Recorded
Leicester
Map of England showing where the Downe arms are recorded
The Downe arms were recorded in Leicester, c. 1619.
Leicestershire was grazing country, and wool and cattle made steady money rather than spectacular fortunes. Steady money bought manors, and manors are what brought families into the registers.
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 Downe 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 Leicester.
Origin & History of the Downe Family in England
The family name Downe is a topographical surname, which means it was originally given to people who lived near a specific physical feature in the landscape. In Middle English, the word "dune" or "down" referred to a rolling hill or an open stretch of elevated, grassy land. Families who took this name likely lived on or near such hillsides. By 1619, records confirm that members of the Downe family were well-established in Leicester. During this period, Leicester was a growing market town where families often identified themselves by their proximity to local landmarks or their trade. As the family settled into the region, the name became a permanent marker of their ancestry and their connection to the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
dun
Old English word for a hill or a down.
This name
DowneA topographic name for someone who lived on or near a hill or rolling upland.
also spelled
Doun
Doune
Downs
Related arms
Downsvariant spelling
Blomerecorded with Downe, same area
Carpenterrecorded with Downe, same area
Gavellrecorded with Downe, same area
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
Leicestershire Archives, Records of the Archdeaconry of Leicester: Wills and Administrations, 1619
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
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
