Map of England showing where the Emke arms are recorded
The Emke arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms with it.
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 Emke 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 Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Emke Family in England
The name Emke is believed to have roots as a diminutive form of Germanic personal names such as Emme or Ermin, which often carried meanings related to strength or universal importance. By the early 17th century, the family had established a presence in Cornwall, a region known for its distinct cultural identity and thriving maritime and mining industries. Living in a coastal area during the 1620s, members of the family likely integrated into the local community through trade, agriculture, or the bustling port activities that defined the Cornish economy at the time. While the name reflects an ancient linguistic heritage from the continent, its survival in the rugged landscape of southwestern England suggests a family that was adaptable and deeply connected to the social fabric of the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Amal
A Germanic root meaning work, labor, or industrious.
This name
EmkeA diminutive form of names beginning with the element Amal, signifying industrious or hardworking.
also spelled
Eames
Ems
Emesse
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
