Map of England showing where the Illingworth arms are recorded
The Illingworth arms were recorded in Leicester, c. 1620.
Leicestershire was grazing country, and wool and cattle made steady money rather than spectacular fortunes. Steady money bought manors, and manors are what brought families into the registers.
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 Illingworth 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 Leicester.
Origin & History of the Illingworth Family in England
The surname Illingworth is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a nickname. It is derived from the village of Illingworth, which is located in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The name itself comes from Old English roots, likely referring to the farmstead or enclosure belonging to a person named Illing. While the family established a notable presence in Leicester by 1620, their ancestors likely migrated south from the Yorkshire region over several generations. During the seventeenth century, families often moved to growing market towns like Leicester to pursue new opportunities in trade or agriculture. As these individuals settled into their new communities, they helped transform the name from a simple geographical marker into a lasting family legacy that persisted through the centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Illing
The family or followers of a person named Illa.
This name
IllingworthAn enclosure or farmstead belonging to the descendants of a man named Illa.
also spelled
Illingwurth
Illingwirth
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Record Office, Parish Registers of Leicester, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
