A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Edmunds family of England.
Reg. 1646 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. an eagle, wings endorsed or”
HantsLyndhurst · Hants, c. 1620
Where the Edmunds Arms Were Recorded
Hants
Map of England showing where the Edmunds arms are recorded
The Edmunds arms were recorded in Hants, c. 1620.
Hampshire had the naval dockyards at Portsmouth on one side and good farmland on the other. Sea money and land money both bought estates, and an estate was what brought a family its coat of 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 Edmunds 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 Hants.
Origin & History of the Edmunds Family in England
The surname Edmunds is a patronymic name, meaning it originated from the given name Edmund. This name is derived from the Old English words "ead," which means wealth or prosperity, and "mund," which means protection. By the time the name became a hereditary surname in England, it was commonly used to identify the son of a man named Edmund. Families carrying this name were well-established in the county of Hampshire by the early 17th century. Records confirm that members of the Edmunds family were living in this region by 1620, likely working as farmers or tradespeople in the local rural communities. Over the following generations, these families became deeply rooted in the social and economic life of southern England, eventually spreading across the country as people moved in search of new opportunities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eadmund
Old English elements meaning prosperity or riches and protector.
This name
EdmundsA patronymic surname signifying son of the wealthy protector.
also spelled
Edmonds
Edmondes
Related arms
Edmandsvariant spelling
Edmondesvariant spelling
Edmondsvariant spelling
Edmonsvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
