A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dykes family of England.
Reg. 2017 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cinquefoilHope and joy
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, or, three cinquefoils sa., for DYKES; 2nd and 2rd, ar. on a cross betw. four mullets az. a sword ppr. pommelled and hilted or, for BALLANTINE”
CumberlandDovenby Hall · Cumberland, c. 1620
Where the Dykes Arms Were Recorded
Cumberland
Map of England showing where the Dykes arms are recorded
The Dykes arms were recorded in Cumberland, c. 1620.
Cumberland was rough border country in the north-west, facing Scotland across a disputed line. Its families held land in return for keeping it defended, and men who fought carried shields of their own.
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 Dykes 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 Cumberland.
Origin & History of the Dykes Family in England
The surname Dykes is a topographic name that originated in Northern England, specifically within the historic county of Cumberland. It was used to identify people who lived near a prominent ditch, embankment, or defensive wall. During the early 17th century, the family was well-established in this region, as evidenced by records confirming their presence there by 1620. Because the landscape of Cumberland was defined by ancient earthworks and Roman fortifications like Hadrian’s Wall, the name likely emerged as a way to describe neighbors who resided along these distinct physical boundaries. Over time, the name evolved from a simple description of a person’s home into a permanent family identifier passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
dic
Old English term for a ditch, trench, or defensive earthwork.
This name
DykesA topographic name for someone who lived near a ditch or embankment.
also spelled
Dikes
Related arms
Dickesvariant spelling
Dikes, or Dykesvariant spelling
Dyxvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cinquefoilHope and joy
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
swordJustice, and military honour
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cinquefoilHope and joy
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
swordJustice, and military honour
