Map of England showing where the Eldredge arms are recorded
The Eldredge arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1592.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route 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 England in this period.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Eldredge 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Eldredge Family in England
The name Eldredge traces its roots back to Old English origins, evolving from the name Ealdred, which combines the words for "old" and "counsel." This suggests that early ancestors were likely respected figures known for their wisdom or experience within their communities. By the late sixteenth century, the family established a firm presence in the county of Suffolk, England. Records from 1592 confirm that members of the Eldredge family were living and working in this region during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. During this period, the family was primarily associated with agricultural life and local trade in the English countryside. As the centuries progressed, the name underwent various spelling changes, but the core identity remained tied to these early roots in East Anglia before many family members eventually migrated to the American colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aethelred
Old English elements meaning noble and counsel.
This name
EldredgeA patronymic surname derived from the Old English given name meaning noble counsel.
also spelled
Eldrid
Eldread
Eldrett
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
