A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Drewe family of England.
Reg. 4045 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Erm. a lion pass gu”
DevonKyllerton · Devon, c. 1593
Where the Drewe Arms Were Recorded
Devon
Map of England showing where the Drewe arms are recorded
The Drewe arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1593.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Drewe 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Drewe Family in England
The surname Drewe is a variation of the ancient name Drew, which traces its roots back to the Old French name Drogo. This name likely arrived in England following the Norman Conquest and eventually became a popular given name before evolving into a hereditary surname. By the late sixteenth century, the family had established a significant presence in the county of Devon. Records from 1593 confirm that members of the Drewe family were well-settled in this region, where they became prominent landowners and active participants in local community affairs. Over the generations, the family integrated into the social fabric of the West Country, maintaining their influence through agriculture and local governance. Their long-standing history in Devon reflects the broader patterns of how many English families transitioned from using simple personal names to permanent surnames during the medieval and early modern periods.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Drogo
Old Germanic element meaning to carry or to bear
This name
DreweA diminutive form of the ancient Germanic name meaning carrier or bearer
also spelled
Dru
Drue
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Worthy, Charles, Devonshire Wills: A Collection of Annotated Testamentary Abstracts, Together with the Family History and Genealogy of Many of the Most Ancient Gentle Houses of the West of England, 1896
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, PROB 11
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
