A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elsworth family of England.
Reg. 7885 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Per pale gu. and ar. two lions ramp. counterchanged”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Elsworth Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Elsworth arms are recorded
The Elsworth 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 Elsworth 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 Elsworth Family in England
The surname Elsworth is a locational name that originated in England, specifically derived from a village of the same name in Cambridgeshire. The name itself is rooted in Old English, combining the name of a person called Elli with the word worth, which refers to an enclosed homestead or settlement. By the early 17th century, members of the family had established a presence in the historic city of York. This migration suggests that the family was part of the movement of people seeking opportunities in northern urban centers during the reign of King James I. These early residents of York lived through a period of significant social change, contributing to the local economy and community life as the city transitioned into the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Elli's worth
A personal name combined with an enclosure or homestead.
This name
ElsworthRefers to a settlement or farmstead belonging to a person named Elli.
also spelled
Elsworth
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. Archbishop of York Diocesan Records
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
