A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lounds family of England.
Reg. 5721 · English, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, LOWNDES, ar. fretty az. on a canton sa. a lion's head erased or; 2nd and 3rd, CLAYTON, ar. a cross engr. sa. betw. four torteaux”
EssexBarrington Hall · Essex, c. 1620
Where the Lounds Arms Were Recorded
Essex
Map of England showing where the Lounds arms are recorded
The Lounds arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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 Lounds 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Lounds Family in England
The family name Lounds is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, originating as a topographical surname for people who lived near a "laund" or "lound." In Middle English, this term referred to an open stretch of grassy land within a wooded area, often used as a clearing for grazing livestock. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Lounds family were firmly established in the county of Essex. During this period, families in the region were deeply connected to the local agricultural economy and the shifting social structures of rural England. As the name spread from its early geographical origins, it became a distinct identifier for families who maintained strong ties to their local communities and the specific terrains they inhabited.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Lund
Old Norse word for a small wood or grove of trees.
This name
LoundsA topographic name for someone who lived near a grove or wooded area.
also spelled
Lounds
Loundes
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Essex Archives Online, Archdeaconry of Essex Wills and Administrations, 1620
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
