A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dowse family of England.
Reg. 7043 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Or, a chev. chequy ar. and az. betw. three greyhounds courant sa. collared gu”
HantsBroughton · Hants, c. 1620
Where the Dowse Arms Were Recorded
Hants
Map of England showing where the Dowse arms are recorded
The Dowse 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 Dowse 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 Dowse Family in England
The surname Dowse is an ancient English name that likely originated as a nickname derived from the Middle English word "douse," which meant sweet or gentle. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Hampshire. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Dowse family were living in this region, where they were often involved in local agriculture and community leadership. During this period, the name was frequently recorded in parish registers as families settled into the rural landscape of southern England. As the family grew, they became deeply rooted in the social fabric of Hampshire, contributing to the local economy and the development of their home villages over several generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Douce
Derived from the Old French word for sweet or gentle.
This name
DowseA medieval nickname for a person with a sweet or pleasant temperament.
also spelled
Douse
Dowes
Dow
Related arms
Dousevariant spelling
Dowvariant spelling
Dowesvariant spelling
Allenrecorded with Dowse, 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
Hampshire Archives and Local Studies, Bishop’s Transcripts of 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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
