A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Drainer family of England.
Reg. 3442 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
helmetWisdom and security in defence
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Sa. a fesse nebulée betw. three close helmets ar. plumed or”
KentCranbrooke · Kent, c. 1620
Where the Drainer Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Drainer arms are recorded
The Drainer arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 Drainer 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Drainer Family in England
The family name Drainer finds its historical roots in the lush landscape of Kent, England, where members of the family were firmly established by the year 1620. The name is likely occupational in origin, stemming from the Middle English word "drain," which referred to the act of removing water from land. In the marshy regions of southeastern England, individuals tasked with managing water levels and maintaining the complex drainage systems of the local fens were essential to the agricultural success of the community. As these workers became known by their specific duties, the name evolved into a hereditary surname that identified the family’s role in shaping the local environment. By the early seventeenth century, the Drainer family had become a recognized part of the Kentish social fabric, living and working within a region defined by its constant struggle to reclaim land from the sea and the surrounding wetlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
drainer
To draw off or flow away
This name
DrainerAn occupational surname for someone who worked in land drainage or water management.
also spelled
Drainer
Draynor
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
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will 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.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
helmetWisdom and security in defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
helmetWisdom and security in defence
