A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elmore family of England.
Reg. 8140 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 chief or, a dolphin az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Elmore Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Elmore arms are recorded
The Elmore arms were recorded in England, 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 Elmore 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 Elmore Family in England
The surname Elmore is rooted in Old English origins, typically derived from a place name meaning a boundary or clearing marked by elm trees. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the family were living in this region during a time of significant social and political change in England. As residents of a major northern trade hub, these early Elmores likely participated in the local economy and civic life of the city. Their presence in York suggests that the family was well-integrated into the urban fabric of the era, living among the stone walls and bustling markets that defined the city at the start of the Stuart period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Æthelmaer
Old English elements meaning noble and famous or illustrious.
This name
ElmoreDerived from a place name meaning a moor where elm trees grow.
also spelled
Elmour
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, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
