Map of England showing where the Holdsworth arms are recorded
The Holdsworth 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 Holdsworth 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 Holdsworth Family in England
The name Holdsworth is a locational surname that originated in the West Riding of Yorkshire, specifically from a place called Holdsworth near the town of Halifax. The name is derived from Old English words meaning a wooded area or a clearing belonging to a person named Hold. By the early 17th century, members of the family had moved away from their ancestral roots in northern England to establish themselves in other parts of the country. Historical records confirm that by 1620, the Holdsworth family had a presence in Warwick, a town with deep medieval significance. This migration reflects the broader movement of families during the Stuart period as individuals sought new opportunities in growing administrative and market centers. The family name remains a testament to these early roots in the Yorkshire landscape and their subsequent integration into the social fabric of the English Midlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Holdesworth
An enclosure or homestead belonging to a person named Hold.
This name
HoldsworthDerived from a locational surname referring to a specific homestead or farmstead.
also spelled
Holdesworth
Holdisworth
Related arms
Houldsworthvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Warwickshire County Record Office, Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
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treeLife, endurance and deep roots
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
