Map of England showing where the Karth arms are recorded
The Karth arms were recorded in Bedford, c. 1620.
Bedfordshire was small, flat farming country close to London. Its manors were held by middling families rather than great ones, but a manor was a manor, and holding one brought 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 Karth 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 Bedford.
Origin & History of the Karth Family in England
The family name Karth has roots that trace back to the early seventeenth century in Bedford, England. Historical records confirm that members of the family were established in this region by 1620, a time when the town was a bustling center of trade and local industry. The name likely originated as a descriptive label or a regional identifier for those living near specific landmarks or working in particular trades common to the Bedfordshire area. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local community, participating in the daily life and social structures of seventeenth-century England. This early presence in Bedford suggests that the family was part of the stable, working population that helped shape the town during a period of significant social and political change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Carth
Derived from the Old English word for a cart or carriage.
This name
KarthAn occupational surname for a carter or someone who transported goods by cart.
also spelled
Kart
Karth
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
