Map of England showing where the Handle arms are recorded
The Handle arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1574.
Oxfordshire was farming country with the university at its centre, and both produced families of standing. Scholars and lawyers who did well bought manors nearby, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Handle 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 Oxford.
Origin & History of the Handle Family in England
The surname Handle is rooted in the historical landscape of England, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of Oxford as early as 1574. During this period, the name likely functioned as a descriptive occupational or locative identifier, as was common practice for families living in university towns or bustling trade centers. By the late sixteenth century, Oxford was a vibrant hub of academic and commercial activity, and families established there were often integrated into the local guild systems or the administrative life of the colleges. While the name may have evolved from an old word describing a person who handled goods or managed specific tasks, its presence in official records from the Elizabethan era suggests that the family was well-settled within the local community. These early ancestors contributed to the social fabric of the region during a time of significant cultural and economic transition in England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Handel
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for hand or handle.
This name
HandleAn occupational name for a craftsman who made handles or a nickname for a person with dexterous hands.
also spelled
Handel
Handell
Handley
Related arms
Hanillorecorded with Handle, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Oxfordshire Archives, Oxford City Council Records: Records of the Freemen of the City of Oxford, 1574
Foster, Joseph, Alumni Oxonienses: The Members of the University of Oxford, 1500-1714, 1891
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
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
