Map of England showing where the Iris arms are recorded
The Iris arms were recorded in Dorset, c. 1620.
Dorset was quiet farming and grazing country along the south coast. Its gentry were middling rather than grand, but they held their manors for a very long time, and long holding is what puts a name in the records.
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 Iris 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 Dorset.
Origin & History of the Iris Family in England
The family name Iris has deep roots in the coastal county of Dorset, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, Dorset was a region defined by its maritime trade and agricultural communities, and families like the Iris line were often tied to the land or local industries near the English Channel. The name itself is thought to be linked to the Greek word for rainbow, which was later adopted into Middle English through botanical and mythological references. Because many surnames from this era were derived from personal traits, place names, or nature, it is likely that the name was either a descriptive nickname or a reference to a specific location where the family first established their home. By the early 1600s, the family was already part of the local social fabric, contributing to the development of the rural parishes that defined life in southwestern England during the reign of King James I.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Iris
Greek word for rainbow
This name
IrisDerived from the Greek goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods.
also spelled
Irysh
Iryshe
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Dorset History Centre, Dorset Parish Registers, 1620
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
