Map of England showing where the Ebanks arms are recorded
The Ebanks arms were recorded in Durham, c. 1620.
Durham was governed by its bishop rather than the crown for most of its history, with its own courts and its own landed class. That separate world produced a tight group of families, nearly all of whom held 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 Ebanks 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 Durham.
Origin & History of the Ebanks Family in England
The surname Ebanks originated in Northern England, with historical records placing the family in the county of Durham as early as 1620. The name is considered a patronymic, which means it was formed by adding a suffix to a father’s given name to denote lineage. Linguists believe the name evolved from a variation of the name Eban, which itself is a shortened form of the name Ebenezer. During the seventeenth century, families in the Durham region were often associated with local trades and agricultural work. As the family grew, members began to migrate from these northern roots, eventually spreading the name to other parts of Britain and across the Atlantic to the Caribbean, where the Ebanks name became particularly prominent in the Cayman Islands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ebb
A diminutive form of the Old English personal name Osbeorn.
This name
EbanksA patronymic surname meaning son of Ebb, derived from the name Osbeorn.
also spelled
Ewbancke
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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Durham County Record Office, Durham Bishop's Transcripts, 1620
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
