Map of England showing where the Ives arms are recorded
The Ives arms were recorded in Northampton, c. 1620.
Northamptonshire was grazing and hunting country in the middle of England, thick with manor houses. Its families were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Ives 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 Northampton.
Origin & History of the Ives Family in England
The family name Ives originates from the Old French personal name Ive, which is a shortened version of names beginning with the Germanic element iv, meaning yew wood. During the Middle Ages, the yew tree was highly valued for its strength and flexibility, often being used to craft longbows. By the time the name became established in England, it evolved into a surname that identified a person as the son of Ive. Records show that members of the Ives family were well-established in Northampton by 1620, a period when many families were preparing for significant migrations to the American colonies. These early settlers were part of a growing movement of English citizens who sought new opportunities across the Atlantic, carrying their family heritage and traditions into a new land.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Iv
Derived from the Germanic word for the yew tree.
This name
IvesA patronymic surname meaning son of Ivo, originating from the Old Norse name Ivar.
also spelled
Iveson
Ivey
Ivie
Related arms
Juessame arms
Eyvesvariant spelling
Iveyvariant spelling
Ivievariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
Northamptonshire Archives, Northampton St Sepulchre Parish Registers, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
