A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Jackson family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 5210 · Britain, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
What the shield shows
A red background with a silver band across the middle. Set around it are three silver plovers, each marked with a green clover leaf.
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à la fasce d'arg., acc. de trois pluviers du même, ch. chacun d'un trèfle de sin. C.: un pluvier de l'écu, surm. de la D.: INNOCENTIÆ SECURUS. S.: deux lions au nat. D. (au-dessous des armes:) MALO MORI QUAM FOEDARI.”
Britainc. 1813
Where the Jackson Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Jackson arms are recorded
The Jackson arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1813.
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.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1801–1820
Reigning in Britain when the Jackson 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 Jackson Family in Britain
The surname Jackson is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of Jack. During the Middle Ages, Jack was a common nickname for the name John. As populations grew and people began to move away from their home villages, it became necessary to use surnames to distinguish between individuals with the same first name. By adding the suffix "son" to the popular nickname, the name Jackson emerged as a way to describe a person’s lineage.
The name became widely established across northern England and the Scottish Borders before spreading throughout the rest of the country. By the early 19th century, families bearing the name were well-integrated into local communities across Britain, including the county of Kent. Records from 1813 confirm the presence of the Jackson family in this region, where they likely participated in the agricultural and industrial life of the time. These families were part of a long tradition of people who carried the name forward through generations of local work and community building.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cinquefoilHope and joy
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
What the shield shows
A silver background with a black chevron across it. Three black hawks' heads sit around the chevron, torn off at the neck, and three silver five-petalled flowers sit on it.
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 chev. sa. betw. three hawks' heads erased of the second as many cinquefoils of the first”
YorkBedale · York, c. 1563
Where the Jackson Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Jackson arms are recorded
The Jackson arms were recorded in York, c. 1563.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in Britain when the Jackson 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 Jackson Family in England
The surname Jackson is a patronymic name, which means it was created to identify a person as the son of Jack. During the Middle Ages, Jack was a common nickname for John. As populations grew and people began to move away from their home villages, they needed a way to distinguish themselves from others with the same first name. By adding the word son to the end of the father’s name, families established a permanent identifier that could be passed down through generations.
Records from the 16th century show that the Jackson family had established a strong presence in the city of York by 1563. During this era, York was a major center for trade and religious life in Northern England. Families with the name Jackson were often involved in the city’s guilds and merchant classes, which allowed them to play a role in the local economy. Because the name was based on a common nickname, it appeared independently in many different parts of England. This means that not all Jacksons are descended from the same single ancestor, but rather from many different men named Jack who lived across the country.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
axeThe execution of military duty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
What the shield shows
A silver background with a red lion walking across it. A red strip runs along the top carrying three silver battle axes.
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. a lion pass. gu. on a chief of the last three battle axes of the first”
CorkAhanesk · Cork, c. 1645
Where the Jackson Arms Were Recorded
Cork
Map of Ireland showing where the Jackson arms are recorded
The Jackson arms were recorded in Cork, c. 1645.
Cork was the largest county in Ireland, with a great harbour and a wide farming hinterland. Both English settlers and older Irish families held land there, and holding land is what brought a family into 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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Britain when the Jackson arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Cork.
Origin & History of the Jackson Family in Ireland
The surname Jackson is of English origin, meaning son of Jack. While the name began in Britain, it became well-established in Ireland during the seventeenth century. By 1645, records confirm that members of the Jackson family were living in County Cork. These early settlers were often part of the waves of migration that moved from England to Ireland during a period of significant political and social change. Many of these families settled in the southern regions of the country, where they integrated into the local economy and society.
Over the following generations, the Jacksons in Cork became deeply rooted in their new home. They participated in the development of local trade and land management. Because the name was already common in England, it blended easily into the administrative records of the time. By the late 1600s, the family had moved beyond their initial arrival points and established themselves as a recognized part of the regional community. Their history reflects the broader movement of people across the Irish Sea, which helped shape the demographic landscape of southern Ireland for centuries to come.
Related Branches & Arms
This name
Jackson
also spelled
Jakson
Jaxon
Jaxson
Jackeson
Related arms
Atwoodrecorded with Jackson, same area
Backhouserecorded with Jackson, same area
Bellrecorded with Jackson, same area
Bowdenrecorded with Jackson, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
Kent Archives, Parish Registers of Kent, 1813
Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cinquefoilHope and joy
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
axeThe execution of military duty
