A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Duckworth family of England.
Reg. 6890 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
bombOne who has faced a great siege
duckResourcefulness on land and water
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
branchPeace, and new growth
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ar. on a chev. az. betw. two ducks pr. in chief and a naval crown of the second in base a bomb fired betw. two estoiles or, on a chief wavy also az. the words "St. Domingo" within a branch of laurel, entwined with another of oak gold”
DevonTopsham · Devon, c. 1620
Where the Duckworth Arms Were Recorded
Devon
Map of England showing where the Duckworth arms are recorded
The Duckworth arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Duckworth 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 Duckworth Family in England
The surname Duckworth is a locative name, which means it originally described the place where a person lived. It is composed of two Old English words: "duc," meaning a duck, and "worth," which refers to an enclosed homestead or a small farm. Therefore, the name likely identified someone who resided on a farmstead frequented by ducks or situated near a stream where wildfowl gathered. By the time members of the family were documented in Devon in 1620, the name had already been established in England for several centuries. These early families were typically yeoman farmers or tradespeople who were deeply connected to the rural landscape of the West Country. Over time, the family spread from these original agricultural settlements into various towns and villages, carrying the name as a permanent marker of their ancestral ties to the land.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
duce and worth
Old English for a water channel or stream and an enclosure.
This name
DuckworthRefers to someone who lived near a stream or enclosure frequented by ducks.
also spelled
Dukworth
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, 1958
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Parish Registers of Devon, 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
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
bombOne who has faced a great siege
duckResourcefulness on land and water
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
branchPeace, and new growth
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
bombOne who has faced a great siege
duckResourcefulness on land and water
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
branchPeace, and new growth
