Map of England showing where the Lancashire arms are recorded
The Lancashire arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Lancashire 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 England.
Origin & History of the Lancashire Family in England
The surname Lancashire is a locative name, meaning it originated as a way to identify people based on the region they came from. It specifically refers to the historic county of Lancashire in North West England. During the medieval period, as populations became more mobile, individuals who moved away from their home county were often identified by their place of origin. By the time records confirm the presence of the family in York in 1620, the name had already transitioned from a geographical descriptor to a hereditary surname passed down through generations. Living in a major hub like York suggests that early members of the family were likely involved in the city’s thriving trade, craft, or mercantile sectors, which were the primary drivers of urban life in the seventeenth century. This migration from a county to a city reflects the broader patterns of movement that helped shape English family history during the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Lancaster
Roman fort on the river Lune
This name
LancashireRefers to a person originating from the county of Lancashire in North West England.
also spelled
Lancashere
Lankester
Lankashire
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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Parish Register Transcripts of York, Series RG 4
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
