Map of England showing where the Holman arms are recorded
The Holman arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1608.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Holman 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Holman Family in England
The surname Holman is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, originating as a topographic name for someone who lived near a hollow or a deep valley. The name is derived from the Old English words "hol," meaning hollow, and "mann," meaning man. By the time records confirm the family presence in Devon in 1608, the name had already been established in the region for several generations. Families in this area were often connected to the rugged terrain of the West Country, where they worked as farmers or tradespeople. Over time, the spelling evolved from earlier variations like Holeman, but the connection to the physical geography of the English countryside remained a defining feature of the family identity.
Holman Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Holm
Old Norse term for an island or a river meadow.
This name
HolmanA person who lived near a river island or a holly tree.
also spelled
Holeman
Holmon
Holleman
Related arms
Holemanvariant spelling
Hallrecorded with Holman, same area
Knightrecorded with Holman, same area
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, 1991
Devon Archives, Parish Registers of Devon, 1608
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
