Map of England showing where the Kinsman arms are recorded
The Kinsman arms were recorded in Northampton, c. 1620.
Northamptonshire was grazing and hunting country in the middle of England, thick with manor houses. Its families were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Kinsman 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 Northampton.
Origin & History of the Kinsman Family in England
The surname Kinsman is a descriptive name that originated in England during the Middle Ages. It was likely used as a nickname to identify someone who was a relative or a close associate of a prominent local figure. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in Northampton, a historic market town in the East Midlands. Records confirm that members of the Kinsman family were living in this area by 1620, where they were integrated into the local community as tradespeople and landowners. As the English population began to expand and move, the name remained tied to these regional roots before eventually spreading to other parts of the country and across the Atlantic. The history of the name reflects the common practice of turning personal relationships into permanent family identifiers during a time when surnames were first becoming standard.
Kinsman Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
cynn
Old English term for family, kin, or tribe.
This name
KinsmanA person related by blood or a member of the same family.
also spelled
Kinsmon
Kynsman
Kynsmon
Related arms
Tomlinerecorded with Kinsman, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Northamptonshire Archives, Northampton St. Sepulchre Parish Registers, 1620
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
