Map of England showing where the Kirkby arms are recorded
The Kirkby arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1566.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Kirkby 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Kirkby Family in England
The surname Kirkby is a locative name, meaning it was originally taken from a place to identify where a person lived or came from. The name is derived from the Old Norse words "kirkja," meaning church, and "by," meaning a village or settlement. This combination reveals that the earliest ancestors who carried this name likely resided in or near a village that featured a prominent church. While the name has roots in the northern regions of England where Viking influence was strong, families bearing the name eventually spread throughout the country. By 1566, records confirm that members of the Kirkby family were well-established in the county of Kent. During this period, families often moved for trade or agricultural opportunities, and the presence of the Kirkby name in southern England shows how the family expanded from its northern origins to become part of the local community in Kent.
Kirkby Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Kirk and byr
Old Norse for church and village or settlement.
This name
KirkbyA habitational name referring to a village containing a church.
also spelled
Kirby
Kyrkby
Kyrby
Related arms
Kerbyvariant spelling
Kerkbyvariant spelling
Kirbyvariant spelling
Kirkebyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, 1566
Kent History and Library Centre, Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury: Wills and Administrations, 1566
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
