Map of England showing where the Judd arms are recorded
The Judd arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1550.
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 England in this period.
Edward VI of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward VI of England
1547–1553
Reigning in England when the Judd 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Judd Family in England
The surname Judd is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a shortened version of the medieval given name Jordan. During the Middle Ages, names were often simplified in everyday speech, and Jordan eventually evolved into the nickname Judde or Judd. By the year 1550, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the county of Kent, England. These early ancestors were likely part of the growing class of yeoman farmers or tradespeople who helped shape the local economy of the region. Because the name was tied to a common baptismal name, it appeared independently in several parts of England, though the Kentish branches remained particularly prominent throughout the sixteenth century. The family name served as a way to identify individuals within their tight-knit rural communities, marking them as descendants of those who carried the name Jordan generations before.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Judah
A Hebrew name meaning praised or celebrated.
This name
JuddA medieval diminutive form of the name Jordan or Jude.
also spelled
Jude
Related arms
Judevariant spelling
Judsvariant spelling
Judsonvariant spelling
Philipotrecorded with Judd, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, 1384–1858
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
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
