Map of England showing where the Kitching arms are recorded
The Kitching arms were recorded in Hereford, c. 1620.
Herefordshire lay on the Welsh border, where land was held in return for military service. Families there were expected to arm and to fight, and a fighting household needed a shield it could be known by.
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 Kitching 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 Hereford.
Origin & History of the Kitching Family in England
The surname Kitching is primarily of English origin and is traditionally classified as an occupational name. It is derived from the Middle English word "kichen," which referred to a kitchen, suggesting that the earliest ancestors to adopt the name were likely employed as cooks or kitchen staff in large households or monasteries. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Hereford, as evidenced by local records from 1620. During this period, the Kitching family members were likely part of the growing merchant or artisan classes that defined the social structure of English market towns. As the name spread through different regions, it evolved from a simple job description into a permanent family identifier, reflecting the common practice of naming individuals based on their daily trade and contributions to their local community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
kicchen
Middle English term for a cooking area or kitchen.
This name
KitchingAn occupational name for someone who worked in a kitchen or a cook.
also spelled
Kytching
Kitchyng
Kitchin
Related arms
Ketchingvariant spelling
Kitchinvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Herefordshire Archives and Records Centre, Hereford Parish Registers, 1620
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
