A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elson family of England.
Reg. 6812 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ar. a chief az. over all an eagle displ. gu”
SussexBarham · Sussex, c. 1620
Where the Elson Arms Were Recorded
Sussex
Map of England showing where the Elson arms are recorded
The Elson arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1620.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic records.
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 Elson 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 Sussex.
Origin & History of the Elson Family in England
The surname Elson is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of someone named Ellis or Elias. By the early 17th century, the name was firmly established in the county of Sussex in southern England. Records from 1620 show that families bearing this name were active in local community life during the reign of King James I. At that time, many people with the name Elson worked in agriculture or as skilled tradespeople in the rural villages of the English countryside. Because surnames were still becoming standardized during this period, the spelling of the name sometimes shifted depending on how a local clerk recorded it in parish registers. These early Elson families were part of the backbone of Sussex society, living through a time of significant religious and political change in England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ellis
A medieval diminutive form of the biblical name Elijah.
This name
ElsonPatronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Ellis or Elias.
also spelled
Elsen
Elsonne
Related arms
Dixwellrecorded with Elson, same area
Laderecorded with Elson, same area
Lambrecorded with Elson, same area
Mulcasterrecorded with Elson, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
West Sussex Record Office, Parish Registers of Sussex, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
