A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Erdington family of England.
Reg. 6494 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Az. two lions pass. guard. or”
BerksBerks, c. 1620
Where the Erdington Arms Were Recorded
Berks
Map of England showing where the Erdington arms are recorded
The Erdington arms were recorded in Berks, c. 1620.
Berkshire sat on the road west from London with the royal castle at Windsor in the middle of it. Court families bought estates within reach, and an estate near the court almost always came with a coat of 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 Erdington 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 Berks.
Origin & History of the Erdington Family in England
The name Erdington originates from a place name in the West Midlands, specifically referring to a settlement near Birmingham. During the medieval period, families often adopted the name of their home village as a way to identify themselves as they moved to different parts of England. By the early 17th century, records confirm that members of the family had established themselves in the county of Berkshire. The presence of the family in Berkshire by 1620 suggests that they were part of the steady migration of families seeking new opportunities in the fertile lands of southern England during the reign of King James I. These early ancestors likely worked in agriculture or local trade, contributing to the growth of rural communities in the region as the family name spread far from its original geographic roots.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eard
Old English word meaning earth, land, or native home.
This name
ErdingtonDerived from a place name meaning the settlement or farmstead of Eard's people.
also spelled
Ardington
Related arms
Ascleysimilar arms
Esklesimilar arms
Esteleysimilar arms
Ardingtonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Domesday Book, Domesday Book: seu Liber Censualis Willelmi Primi Regis Angliae, 1086
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, 1620
Watts, Victor, The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names, 2004
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
