Map of England showing where the Durda arms are recorded
The Durda arms were recorded in Gillingham, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Durda 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 England.
Origin & History of the Durda Family in England
The family name Durda has roots that trace back to the early seventeenth century in the historic city of York. By 1620, records indicate that members of the family were already established residents within this northern English hub. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families living there often participated in the local guild systems or agricultural commerce that defined the region. The name itself likely evolved from older linguistic roots, possibly serving as a descriptive term or a localized variation of a surname common to the area. As these early ancestors navigated the social and economic shifts of the Stuart era, they helped form the foundation of a lineage that would persist through centuries of English history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Durand
Derived from the Old French word meaning enduring or steadfast.
This name
DurdaA locational or occupational surname variant indicating a person of persistent or firm character.
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
City of York Archives, York Freemen’s Register
Palliser, D.M., Tudor York, 1979
Yelling, J.A., Common Field and Enclosure in England 1450–1850, 1977
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
ostrichWilling obedience and serious thought
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
ostrichWilling obedience and serious thought
