Map of England showing where the Kingsmill arms are recorded
The Kingsmill arms were recorded in Hants, c. 1504.
Hampshire had the naval dockyards at Portsmouth on one side and good farmland on the other. Sea money and land money both bought estates, and an estate was what brought a family its coat 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.
Henry VII of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry VII of England
1485–1509
Reigning in England when the Kingsmill 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 Hants.
Origin & History of the Kingsmill Family in England
The surname Kingsmill is a locational name that originated in England, likely referring to a mill that was once owned or operated by the crown. By the early sixteenth century, the family had firmly established itself in the county of Hampshire. A notable figure from this period was Sir John Kingsmill, who served as a justice of the Common Pleas and settled at Sidmonton in 1504. His success helped the family rise in social status, allowing them to acquire significant landholdings throughout the region. Over the following generations, members of the family became deeply involved in local administration and legal affairs, cementing their reputation as prominent landowners in southern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cyning and Myln
Old English words for king and mill.
This name
KingsmillA topographical name for someone who lived near a mill belonging to the king.
also spelled
Kyngsmill
Kyngsmille
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Page, William, The Victoria History of the County of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, 1911
Bindoff, Stanley Thomas, The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1509–1558, 1982
The National Archives, Court of Common Pleas: Plea Rolls, CP 40
Hampshire Archives and Local Studies, Kingsmill Family of Sidmonton Estate Records, 4M52
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
