A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elman family of England.
Reg. 2595 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Sa. three eagles displ. with two heads ar”
SuffolkSuffolk, c. 1620
Where the Elman Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Elman arms are recorded
The Elman arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Elman 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 Elman Family in England
The family name Elman has deep roots in the English county of Suffolk, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a nickname during the Middle Ages, as surnames often evolved from the personal traits, occupations, or locations associated with an individual. In the case of Elman, it is believed to be a variation of the Old English name Aethelman, which combines the words for noble and man. By the seventeenth century, families bearing this name were well-established in the rural landscapes of East Anglia, where they were typically involved in local agriculture or trade. As the centuries progressed, these early settlers helped shape the local communities of Suffolk before some eventually moved across the Atlantic to participate in the growth of the American colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aethelman
Derived from Old English elements meaning noble and man.
This name
ElmanA locational or occupational surname denoting a person of noble character or status.
also spelled
Elmon
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
Suffolk Archives, Parish Registers of Suffolk, 1620
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
