A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elric family of England.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. three bars az”
The Elric arms were recorded in Leicester, c. 1620.
Leicestershire was grazing country, and wool and cattle made steady money rather than spectacular fortunes. Steady money bought manors, and manors are what brought families into the registers.
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.
Reigning in England when the Elric arms are first recorded.
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.
The name Elric traces its roots to Old English origins, likely evolving from the personal name Aethelric, which combines the elements for noble and ruler. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a clear presence in the English town of Leicester. Records from 1620 show members of the family living as active participants in the local community during a period of significant social and economic change in the East Midlands. During this time, families in Leicester often worked in trades related to wool or agriculture, which were the primary industries of the region. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of the town, contributing to the daily life and administrative records of the parish. Their presence in Leicester during this era suggests they were settled residents who helped shape the local culture long before the industrial expansion of later centuries.
Derived from Old English elements meaning elf and ruler.
