Map of England showing where the Keyworth arms are recorded
The Keyworth arms were recorded in Stafford, c. 1505.
Staffordshire was mixed country of moorland, farmland and early ironworking. Its landed families were spread widely rather than concentrated, and each holding brought its own claim to 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.
Henry VII of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry VII of England
1485–1509
Reigning in England when the Keyworth 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 Stafford.
Origin & History of the Keyworth Family in England
The surname Keyworth is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the village of Keyworth in Nottinghamshire, where the name first appeared in records during the medieval period. As families moved away from their ancestral village to seek new opportunities, they often kept the name of their home as a way to identify their origins. By 1505, records confirm that members of the Keyworth family had established a presence in Stafford. This migration suggests that the family was part of a broader movement of people traveling between English market towns for work and trade during the early sixteenth century. Over time, these individuals integrated into the local community of Stafford, helping to anchor the family name in a new region far from its original Nottinghamshire roots.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Caius and worth
Latin name meaning rejoice and an Old English term for enclosure.
This name
KeyworthAn enclosure or homestead associated with a person named Caius.
also spelled
Knesworth
Kneyswirth
Kneyswarth
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Staffordshire Record Office, Stafford Borough Records, D1323
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
