A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Littlewood family of England.
Reg. 1912 · English, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bullValour and generosity
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Az. a bull's head erased or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Littlewood Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Littlewood arms are recorded
The Littlewood 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 Littlewood 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 Littlewood Family in England
The surname Littlewood is a locational name that originated in England during the Middle Ages. It was used to describe people who lived near a small wood or a clearing within a forest. During the seventeenth century, the family established a notable presence in the city of York. Records confirm that members of the Littlewood family were living there by 1620, likely working as tradespeople or merchants within the city walls. As a family name, it reflects the deep connection between early English surnames and the natural landscape of the countryside. Over time, families with this name moved from these small woodland areas into growing urban centers like York, where they became part of the local community and helped shape the history of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
lytel and wudu
Old English for small and wood or forest.
This name
LittlewoodA topographic name for someone who lived near a small wood or forest.
also spelled
Lytlewood
Littelwood
Littlewode
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, Percy Hide and Wilson, Richard Middlewood, A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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bullValour and generosity
bullValour and generosity
