A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Earnshaw family of England.
Reg. 6694 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. a fesse betw. three wheels or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Earnshaw Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Earnshaw arms are recorded
The Earnshaw arms were recorded in England, 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 Earnshaw 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 Earnshaw Family in England
The Earnshaw surname originates from the northern regions of England, specifically within the historic county of Yorkshire. The name is locative, meaning it was likely derived from a specific place name composed of the Old English words "earn," meaning eagle, and "sceaga," meaning a small wood or thicket. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name were people who lived near a wooded area frequented by eagles. By the year 1620, records confirm that the family was well-established in Yorkshire, where they were deeply integrated into the local community. During this period, families often lived in small, rural settlements where their surname served as a practical way to identify their ancestral home or geographic origin. Over the following centuries, the family name spread from these northern roots as individuals moved to different parts of the country for work and trade.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ern + sceaga
Eagle and a small wood or thicket.
This name
EarnshawA dweller at a wooded area frequented by eagles.
also spelled
Ernshaw
Ernshawe
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M. A Dictionary of English Surnames. 1991
West Yorkshire Archive Service. Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
