A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Esmond family of England.
Reg. 5525 · 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
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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 az. a lion ramp. erm”
CornwallCornwall, c. 1620
Where the Esmond Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Esmond arms are recorded
The Esmond 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 Esmond 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 Esmond Family in England
The surname Esmond has deep roots in the English language, originating from the Old English personal name Eastmund, which combines the elements for grace or protection with the word for hand or protector. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the rugged landscape of Cornwall. During this period, families in the region were often tied to the local mining industry or maritime trade, which shaped their daily lives and social standing. The transition of the name from a personal identifier to a hereditary surname reflects the broader historical shift in how English families organized their identities during the late medieval and early modern eras. As the Esmond family settled into the Cornish countryside by 1620, they became part of the local fabric, contributing to the unique cultural and historical development of the southwestern peninsula of England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Estmund
Derived from Old English elements meaning grace or protection and hand.
This name
EsmondA name signifying a gracious protector or one protected by divine grace.
also spelled
Esmound
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Cornwall Archives, Parish Register of St. Enoder, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1600–1650
Hanks, Patrick and Hodges, Flavia, A Dictionary of Surnames, 1988
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
