Map of England showing where the Killingsworth arms are recorded
The Killingsworth arms were recorded in Northumberland, c. 1620.
Northumberland was border country facing Scotland, raided and fought over for three hundred years. Families held their land in return for defending it, and a defending household carried a shield.
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 Killingsworth 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 Northumberland.
Origin & History of the Killingsworth Family in England
The family name Killingsworth originates from the northern regions of England, specifically taking its name from the township of Killingworth in Northumberland. Historical records confirm that members of the family were established in this area by the early seventeenth century. The name itself is derived from Old English roots, likely describing a settlement associated with a person named Cylla. During the 1620s, the family was deeply connected to the local landscape, and they were often identified by their landholdings and their role in the rural society of the North East. As the family grew, they became a fixture of the Northumberland community, maintaining a presence that spanned generations in the rugged terrain near the border of Scotland. This deep connection to the geography of the region helped define their identity long before the name spread to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cynehelm
Derived from Old English elements meaning royal protector or helmet.
This name
KillingsworthRefers to an inhabitant of a farmstead or enclosure belonging to Cynehelm.
also spelled
Kyllingworth
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Mawer, Allen. The Place-Names of Northumberland and Durham. 1920
Northumberland Archives. Quarter Sessions Records of Northumberland, QSB
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