Map of England showing where the Downs arms are recorded
The Downs 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 Downs 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 Downs Family in England
The surname Downs is a topographical name, meaning it was originally used to describe people who lived near a specific landscape feature. In Old English, the word "dun" referred to a hill or an open stretch of high, rolling land. Families who lived on or near these hills often became known as "of the Downs," which eventually shortened to the single name Downs. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Downs family were well-established in the historic city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and religion, and families living there were often involved in the city’s bustling merchant guilds or local administration. As these early ancestors moved through their daily lives in the shadow of York’s ancient stone walls, the name became a permanent way to identify their lineage and their connection to the English countryside.
Downs Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
dun
Old English term for a hill or elevated piece of land.
This name
DownsRefers to someone who lived on or near a hill or rolling upland.
also spelled
Downes
Dounes
Downis
Downe
Related arms
Downevariant spelling
Downesvariant spelling
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I
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stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
