Map of England showing where the Louth arms are recorded
The Louth arms were recorded in Lincoln, c. 1620.
Lincolnshire was rich farming country, and its wealth was spread across many middling families. Households of that size bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Louth 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 Lincoln.
Origin & History of the Louth Family in England
The surname Louth is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place rather than a trade or personal trait. The name traces its origins to the town of Louth in Lincolnshire, England, which has been a significant settlement since the Anglo-Saxon period. By the early 17th century, families carrying this name were well-established in the city of Lincoln, where they lived and worked as part of the local community. During this era, the name often appeared in parish registers and legal documents as individuals moved from the rural town of Louth into the growing urban center of Lincoln. These early ancestors were part of a society transitioning through the Stuart period, and their presence in Lincoln by 1620 suggests they were settled members of the regional population who helped define the local history of the county.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Luda
An Old English word referring to a loud or noisy stream.
This name
LouthA locational surname derived from a town in Lincolnshire situated near a river.
also spelled
Lowth
Lowthe
Related arms
Lowthvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Lincolnshire Archives, Bishop’s Transcripts of Parish Registers for the City of Lincoln, 1620
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wolfReward from long service and hard work
wolfReward from long service and hard work
