Map of England showing where the Elswick arms are recorded
The Elswick arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the 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 Elswick 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Elswick Family in England
The surname Elswick is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name traces its roots to the village of Elswick, located in the historic county of Lancashire in Northern England. The name itself is of Old English origin, likely combining a personal name with the suffix "wic," which refers to a dairy farm or a settlement. By the year 1620, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established within the Lancaster region. During this period, the family was deeply connected to the local landscape, living in a part of England defined by its rolling hills and proximity to the Irish Sea. As the family grew, members moved throughout the county, helping to shape the local community through agriculture and trade long before the industrial expansion of the later centuries.
Elswick Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Aelle's wic
Aelle's dairy farm or settlement
This name
ElswickDerived from an Old English place name referring to a farmstead belonging to a person named Aelle.
also spelled
Elswicke
Elswick
Elswyk
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Place-Names of Lancashire. 1922
Lancashire Archives. Bishop’s Transcripts for the Diocese of Chester, 1620
Mills, A.D. A Dictionary of English Place-Names. 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
