Map of England showing where the Kerry arms are recorded
The Kerry 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 Kerry 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 Kerry Family in England
The surname Kerry has deep roots in the English county of Shropshire, which was historically known as Salop. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents in this region. The name itself is thought to be locative, meaning it likely originated from people who lived in or near a place called Kerry, which is located just across the border in Montgomeryshire, Wales. During the seventeenth century, families in this area often moved between the Welsh borderlands and the English Midlands for trade and agriculture. Because the name is tied to a specific geographic location, it suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely landowners or tenants who became identified by their home village as they traveled or settled in new communities. Over time, the name became a permanent family identifier that was passed down through generations in the Salop area.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ciar
An ancient Gaelic term meaning dark or black.
This name
KerryDerived from a place name meaning dark-haired or dark-complexioned person.
also spelled
Kerey
Related arms
Kerey, or Kerceyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Eyton, Robert William. Antiquities of Shropshire. 1854
Shropshire Archives. Quarter Sessions Records: Recognizances and Indictments. 1620
Trinder, Barrie. A History of Shropshire. 1983
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
