Map of England showing where the Knapman arms are recorded
The Knapman arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Knapman 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Knapman Family in England
The surname Knapman is deeply rooted in the landscape of Devon, where the family established a strong presence by the early seventeenth century. The name is topographical in origin, likely derived from the Old English word "cnæpp," which refers to a hilltop or a small summit. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name were people who lived near or worked upon such elevated ground. By 1620, the Knapman family had become well-integrated into the local community, with records showing them as established landholders and active participants in parish life. Their history is closely tied to the rural development of the West Country, reflecting a lifestyle centered on agriculture and the management of the rolling Devonshire hills. Over time, the family name became a permanent fixture in the region, marking the lineage as one of the many families who helped shape the identity of the Devon countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cnaepe
Old English term for a boy or a servant.
This name
KnapmanAn occupational surname for a young man or a servant who worked for a master.
also spelled
Knapmon
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Gover, J.E.B., Mawer, A., and Stenton, F.M., The Place-Names of Devon, 1931
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Parish Registers of Devon, 1600–1650
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
