A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Edgcumbe family of England.
Reg. 3974 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
ermineDignity and rank
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Counter-ermine (Ermines)Means: Dignity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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. on a bend ermines cotised or, three boars' heads couped ar”
EnglandMount-Edgcumbe, c. 1620
Where the Edgcumbe Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Edgcumbe arms are recorded
The Edgcumbe arms were recorded in Mount-Edgcumbe, 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 Edgcumbe 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 Edgcumbe Family in England
The family name Edgcumbe originates from the southwestern region of England, specifically deriving from a place name in Devon that translates to the edge of a valley. While the family established deep roots in the West Country, their influence eventually spread across the nation through trade, marriage, and civil service. By 1620, members of the family were documented as residents in the city of York, suggesting that they were part of the mobile professional class moving between regional hubs during the early seventeenth century. This migration highlights how families of that era expanded their reach beyond their ancestral lands to pursue new opportunities in growing urban centers. As they settled into these northern communities, they maintained their distinct identity while adapting to the social and economic life of their new surroundings.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Edge + Cumb
A sharp ridge or border combined with a valley or hollow.
This name
EdgcumbeRefers to a person who lived at the edge of a valley.
also spelled
Edgecombe
Edgcombe
Related arms
Edgecumbevariant spelling
Egecombevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Gover, J.E.B., Mawer, A., and Stenton, F.M., The Place-Names of Devon, 1931
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I, 1619–1623
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate 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.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
ermineDignity and rank
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
ermineDignity and rank
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
