Map of England showing where the Longhurst arms are recorded
The Longhurst 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 Longhurst 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 Longhurst Family in England
The surname Longhurst is a topographic name, which means it was originally used to describe the specific landscape where a family lived. The name is derived from the Old English words "lang," meaning long, and "hyrst," which refers to a wooded hill or a thicket. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry this name likely resided near a long stretch of woodland or a prominent wooded ridge. By 1620, records confirm that members of the Longhurst family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a vital center for trade and administration in Northern England, and families settled there often played active roles in the local merchant guilds or civic life. As the family grew, they carried this descriptive name across the region, marking their connection to the natural geography of the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
lang and hyrst
Old English for long and a wooded hill or grove.
This name
LonghurstRefers to someone who lived near a long wooded hill or ridge.
also spelled
Longhirst
Longherst
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1998
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
The National Archives, Lay Subsidy Rolls for the County of York, 1620
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