A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Le Master family of England.
Reg. 7077 · English, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Or, on a fess az. betw. three pheons gu. two lions pass. of the first”
Englandc. 1587
Where the Le Master Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Le Master arms are recorded
The Le Master arms were recorded in England, c. 1587.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Le Master 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 Le Master Family in England
The family name Le Master traces its roots to the occupational titles used in medieval England, where it likely identified a person who held a position of authority or a skilled trade. By the year 1587, records confirm that members of the family were established in the historic city of York. During this period, York served as a vital northern hub for commerce and administration, suggesting that early ancestors were integrated into the urban life of the region. The name itself reflects the transition from descriptive nicknames to fixed surnames, marking the family as part of the growing middle class that helped shape the social structure of Elizabethan England. As the family moved through the centuries, they maintained a presence in the north, participating in the local traditions and professional guilds that defined the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Magister
Latin term for a teacher, master, or person in authority.
This name
Le MasterRefers to a person who served as a master, schoolteacher, or official.
also spelled
Lemaitre
Lemaistre
Related arms
Le Maistrevariant spelling
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1587
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
lionCourage, strength and royalty
