A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Edwardes family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2145 · Britain, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. au chev. engr. d'arg., acc. de trois têtes et cols de tigre du même. C.: un buste d'homme de carn., posé de face, coiffé d'un bassinet au nat., lisé d'or. D.: A VYNO DUW DERVID (La volonté de Dieu sera accomplie.)”
Britainc. 1644
Where the Edwardes Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Edwardes arms are recorded
The Edwardes arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1644.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 Britain in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Britain when the Edwardes arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Edwardes Family in Britain
The surname Edwardes is a patronymic name, meaning it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Edward. While the name became common across England, the branch of the family established in Kent by 1644 reflects the broader movement of families during the seventeenth century. During this period, the spelling of surnames was not yet standardized, and it was common for the same family to use variations like Edwards or Edwardes in legal documents and parish registers. By settling in Kent, these early family members were part of a region that served as a vital hub for agriculture and trade near London. Their presence in the county during the mid-1600s suggests they were likely landowners or tradespeople who participated in the local economy during a time of significant political and social change in Britain.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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, erm. a lion ramp. sa., for EDWARDES; 2nd and 3rd, gu. a chev. betw. three crosses botony or”
Walesc. 1647
Where the Edwardes Arms Were Recorded
Denbigh
Map of Wales showing where the Edwardes arms are recorded
The Edwardes arms were recorded in Wales, c. 1647.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Denbigh.
Denbighshire was north Welsh country of hills and small estates. Land was held by a great many families rather than a few, and each holding brought its own claim to a 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 Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Britain when the Edwardes arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Wales.
Origin & History of the Edwardes Family in Wales
The surname Edwardes emerged in Wales as a patronymic, meaning it was originally derived from the given name of a father or ancestor. In the Welsh naming tradition, individuals were often identified by their lineage rather than a fixed hereditary surname, but this practice shifted as families began to adopt permanent names to align with English administrative customs. By the time records place the family in Denbigh in 1647, the name had become a stable identifier for a household established within the local community. During this period, families in North Wales often held positions of local influence or managed land, which helped them integrate into the changing social structures of the seventeenth century. The transition to the name Edwardes reflects a broader cultural evolution in Wales, where ancient naming patterns gradually gave way to the standardized surnames that define modern family history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eadweard
Old English elements meaning rich or blessed guardian.
This name
EdwardesA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Edward, meaning wealthy guardian.
also spelled
Edwards
Eduardes
Related arms
Edwardssimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Parish registers of Kent, series reference P
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cross symbolChristian faith and service
