A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Holms family of England.
Reg. 1913 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Barry of six and az. on a canton ar. a chaplet gu”
YorkPaull-Holme · York, c. 1346
Where the Holms Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Holms arms are recorded
The Holms arms were recorded in York, c. 1346.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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.
Edward III of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward III of England
1327–1377
Reigning in England when the Holms 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 York.
Origin & History of the Holms Family in England
The surname Holms is a topographical name, meaning it was originally used to describe people who lived near a specific type of landscape. In Old Norse and Old English, the word "holm" referred to a small island in a river or a piece of dry land surrounded by marshy ground. By the time the family appeared in official records in York in 1346, the name had become a way to identify individuals based on their local geography. During the fourteenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and commerce, and families living near the banks of the River Ouse often took on names that reflected their immediate surroundings. As the family grew and moved throughout the region, the name evolved into its current form, serving as a lasting link to the wetlands and riverbanks where their ancestors first settled.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
holmr
Old Norse word for a small island or a river islet.
This name
HolmsA topographic name for someone who lived on a small island or near a river meadow.
also spelled
Holms
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
Smith, A.H., The Place-Names of the East Riding of Yorkshire and York, 1937
The National Archives, Lay Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire, 1346
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
