Map of England showing where the Jeffcoat arms are recorded
The Jeffcoat 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 Jeffcoat 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 Jeffcoat Family in England
The Jeffcoat family name finds its roots in the English landscape, with historical records confirming that members of the family were established in Northampton by 1620. The name is classified as a locative or descriptive surname, likely evolving from Old English roots that identified a person by their residence or a specific physical trait. During the early seventeenth century, families in Northampton were often tied to the local wool trade or agricultural work, which defined the daily lives of those living in the region. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the English Midlands, eventually participating in the migration patterns that would carry the name across the Atlantic. This early presence in Northampton serves as the foundational chapter for the family, marking them as part of the working class that helped build the local community before the name spread to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Geoffrey
Derived from Germanic elements meaning peace and territory or pledge.
This name
JeffcoatA patronymic surname indicating a descendant of someone named Geoffrey.
also spelled
Jeftcott
Jeffcoat
Jeffcote
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Northamptonshire Archives, Northampton St Sepulchre Parish Registers, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
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cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
