Map of England showing where the Heritage arms are recorded
The Heritage arms were recorded in Warwick, c. 1620.
Warwickshire lay in the middle of England, and its landed families were spread evenly across it rather than gathered in one corner. A great many held a single manor each, and each of those holdings brought its own claim to 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 Heritage 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 Warwick.
Origin & History of the Heritage Family in England
The family name Heritage has deep roots in the English county of Warwickshire, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1620. The name itself is classified as a topographical surname, which means it was originally given to someone who lived near a specific piece of land or a notable landmark. In Middle English, the term often referred to a piece of inherited land or a held estate. By settling in Warwick, a town with a rich medieval history, the early Heritage family likely became part of the local agricultural or merchant classes that helped shape the region. Over the following centuries, the family name remained tied to the landscape of the English Midlands, reflecting a long tradition of land stewardship and local community involvement.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hereditas
Latin term for heirship, inheritance, or property passed down through generations.
This name
HeritageA topographic or occupational name for someone who lived on or managed inherited land.
also spelled
Herytage
Heretage
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, 1991
Dugdale, William, The Antiquities of Warwickshire, 1656
Warwickshire County Record Office, Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1620
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
