A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Druce family of England.
Reg. 3390 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
bordureA difference between branches of one family
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Chequy or and az. a bordure engr. gu”
MiddlesexFulham · Middlesex, c. 1616
Where the Druce Arms Were Recorded
Middlesex
Map of England showing where the Druce arms are recorded
The Druce arms were recorded in Middlesex, c. 1616.
Middlesex was the county around London, and City money flowed straight into it. Merchants and officials bought estates within reach of the capital, and a new estate brought a coat of arms with it.
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 Druce 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 Middlesex.
Origin & History of the Druce Family in England
The family name Druce has deep roots in English history, with early records confirming that members of the family were well-established in the county of Middlesex by 1616. Etymologists often trace the origins of the name to the Old French word "drou," which was a term of endearment meaning a friend or a lover. Over several centuries, this name evolved through various spellings as it moved from the continent into the British Isles. By the early seventeenth century, the Druce family had integrated into the local social fabric of Middlesex, where they lived as landowners and tradespeople during a time of significant economic change. Their presence in this region suggests they were part of the growing middle class that helped shape the local administration and community life of the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Drus
A Latin name derived from the Roman cognomen Drusus.
This name
DruceA habitational name referring to someone from Dreux in France or a descendant of the Drusus lineage.
also spelled
Druse
Related arms
Chalonerrecorded with Druce, same area
Harterecorded with Druce, same area
Lyleyrecorded with Druce, same area
Paynerecorded with Druce, 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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Kew, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, 1616
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
bordureA difference between branches of one family
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
bordureA difference between branches of one family
