Map of England showing where the Eltringham arms are recorded
The Eltringham 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 Eltringham 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 Eltringham Family in England
The surname Eltringham is a locational name, which means it was originally taken from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal nickname. Historical evidence confirms that members of the family were established in the city of York by 1620, though the name itself likely traces its roots to the village of Eltringham in Northumberland. In the Middle Ages, people often moved from small rural settlements to larger urban centers like York to find work in trade or crafts. As these individuals settled in new areas, their neighbors began to identify them by their place of origin. Over several generations, this geographic identifier became a permanent family surname passed down from parents to their children. By the early seventeenth century, the Eltringham name was firmly rooted in the social fabric of northern England, reflecting the migration patterns of families moving toward growing administrative and commercial hubs.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eltring
Old English personal name Eltra plus the suffix for people of.
This name
EltringhamRefers to the settlement or descendants of the followers of Eltra.
also spelled
Metringame
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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Parish Registers of York, 1620
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
horseReadiness to serve king and country
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
horseReadiness to serve king and country
