Map of Britain showing where the Humphreys arms are recorded
The Humphreys arms were recorded in Londres, c. 1714.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 Britain in this period.
Anne of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
Anne of Great Britain
1707–1714
Reigning in Britain when the Humphreys arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Humphreys Family in Britain
The surname Humphreys originates from the Old German name Hunfrid, which combines the words for giant and peace. After the Norman Conquest of 1066, this name became popular across Britain in its French form, Humfrey. Over the following centuries, families began to adopt the name as a permanent surname to identify their lineage. By the time your ancestors were established in Kent in 1714, the name had already evolved through various spellings in parish registers and legal documents. During this era, families with this name were often involved in local trades or agriculture, contributing to the steady growth of village life in the English countryside. The transition from a first name to a hereditary surname reflects the broader social changes in Britain, where people increasingly needed stable family identifiers for tax records and property ownership.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Gu. a cross patonce erm”
Englandc. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Humphreys arms are recorded
The Humphreys arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Britain when the Humphreys 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 England.
Origin & History of the Humphreys Family in England
The surname Humphreys is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Humphrey. The name itself is derived from the Old German name Hunfrid, which combines words meaning giant or warrior and peace. By the time the name became common in England, it had evolved through various spellings such as Humfrey and Umfrey. In the early 17th century, families bearing this name were well-established in northern England, particularly in the city of York. Records from 1620 show that these individuals were active members of the local community, often participating in the trade and civic life that defined the city during the Stuart period. As the name spread across the country, it became a fixture of English parish registers, marking the steady growth of the family line through generations of laborers, merchants, and landowners.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ar. on a bend sa. three leopards' faces or”
FlintFlint, c. 1660
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Map of Wales showing where the Humphreys arms are recorded
The Humphreys arms were recorded in Flint, c. 1660.
Flintshire was small north Welsh country on the Dee estuary, close to Chester. English and Welsh families both held land there, and each holding 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 Wales in this period.
Charles II of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of England
1660–1685
Reigning in Britain when the Humphreys arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Flint.
Origin & History of the Humphreys Family in Wales
The surname Humphreys finds its roots in the Welsh tradition of patronymics, where a person was identified by their father’s given name rather than a fixed family surname. The name itself is derived from the Old German name Humfrid, which means peaceful giant or protector of the home. By the time the name began to solidify into a hereditary surname, it became deeply associated with the border regions of Wales. Records confirm that members of the family were established in the town of Flint by 1660, a period when the area was transitioning through significant political and social changes following the English Civil War. As families in Wales moved away from the older naming customs to adopt permanent surnames, those who carried the name Humphreys often held roles within local communities and parish life. This transition helped the name persist through generations, marking the family as a long-standing part of the social fabric in North Wales.
Humphreys Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Hunfrid
Derived from Germanic elements meaning giant or warrior and peace.
This name
HumphreysA patronymic surname signifying son of the peaceful warrior or giant.
also spelled
Humphries
Humfreys
Humphrys
Related arms
Humfreys, Humphreys, Humfrey, or Humfryvariant spelling
Humphriesvariant spelling
Humphrysvariant spelling
Ewerrecorded with Humphreys, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
The National Archives, Parish registers of Kent, series RG 4
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
horseReadiness to serve king and country
horseReadiness to serve king and country
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
