A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Erne family of England.
Reg. 9626 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Ar. a lion ramp. az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Erne Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Erne arms are recorded
The Erne 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 Erne 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 Erne Family in England
The family name Erne is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Northern England, with documented evidence placing the family in the city of York as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, York served as a vital hub for trade and administration, and families living there were often involved in the city’s bustling merchant guilds or local craft industries. The name itself likely evolved from geographic descriptions or old occupational terms common in the Yorkshire region during the Middle Ages. As the family established itself in York, they became part of the social fabric of a city that was transitioning through significant political and religious changes. By settling in such a prominent urban center, early members of the Erne family were positioned to participate in the growth of regional commerce and the development of local community life that defined the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Earn
Old English word for an eagle or a sea eagle.
This name
ErneA topographic name for someone who lived near a river or a place frequented by eagles.
also spelled
Erney
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Baines, Edward. History, Directory and Gazetteer of the County of York. 1822
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Account Rolls. 1620
Palliser, David M. Tudor York. 1979
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
