Map of England showing where the Jenkins arms are recorded
The Jenkins arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1620.
Shropshire lay on the Welsh border, and border country needed men who could fight. Families held their land in return for service, and service in arms is what a coat of arms was originally for.
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 Jenkins 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 Salop.
Origin & History of the Jenkins Family in England
The surname Jenkins originated as a patronymic, meaning it was derived from the given name of a father or ancestor. It is a diminutive form of the name John, combined with the Flemish suffix "kin," which translates to "little." This naming style became popular in England following the arrival of Flemish weavers and traders during the Middle Ages. By the early seventeenth century, the name was firmly established across various English regions, including the county of Salop, also known as Shropshire. Records confirm that members of the Jenkins family were living and working in this area by 1620. During this period, families often settled in rural communities where they contributed to the local agricultural or craft-based economy. The presence of the family in Salop reflects the wider movement of people who helped shape the social and economic landscape of the English countryside during the Stuart era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Per chev. sa. and or, a chev. engr. betw. in chief two escarbuncles, and in base a lion pass. counterchanged”
MonmouthCairleon · Monmouth, c. 1647
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Wales showing where the Jenkins arms are recorded
The Jenkins arms were recorded in Monmouth, c. 1647.
Monmouthshire lay on the Welsh border, where land was held in return for military service. Families were expected to arm and to fight, and fighting households carried shields of their own.
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 Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in England when the Jenkins arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Monmouth.
Origin & History of the Jenkins Family in Wales
The surname Jenkins originated as a patronymic, meaning it was created to identify a person as the son of a man named Jenkin. Jenkin itself was a diminutive form of the name John, which became popular in Wales following the influence of Norman settlers. By the time the name appeared in official records in Monmouth in 1647, it had already transitioned from a descriptive label into a permanent family name passed down through generations. During this period, the region of Monmouthshire served as a cultural bridge between Welsh traditions and English administrative practices. Families living there often adopted these fixed surnames to comply with legal requirements for land ownership and tax documentation. This shift marked a significant change in how Welsh families identified themselves, moving away from the traditional naming systems toward the stable, hereditary structures that define modern genealogy.
Jenkins Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
John
God is gracious
This name
JenkinsA diminutive form meaning little John or son of John
also spelled
Jenkens
Jenkyns
Jenkines
Jenkyn
Related arms
Genkinsvariant spelling
Jenkens, or Jenkynsvariant spelling
Jenkynvariant spelling
Jenkynsvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Shropshire Archives, Shropshire Parish Registers: Diocese of Lichfield, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
