Map of England showing where the Legum arms are recorded
The Legum 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 Legum 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 Legum Family in England
The family name Legum is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Northern England, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of York as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, York served as a vital hub for trade and administration, and families residing there were often involved in the city’s bustling merchant guilds or local craft industries. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older occupational or locational surnames that evolved as families moved through the shifting social structures of the era. By establishing themselves in a major urban center like York, the early Legum family members became part of the city’s long tradition of civic life and regional commerce. This presence in such a significant historical city suggests that the family was well-integrated into the local community during a period of great change in English society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Legumen
Latin term referring to pulse or bean plants.
This name
LegumAn occupational name for a grower or seller of legumes or pulse crops.
also spelled
Leggim
Legeam
Legum
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Baines, Edward. History, Directory and Gazetteer of the County of York. 1822
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. York Diocesan Probate Records. 1620–1650
Palliser, David M. Tudor York. 1979
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
