Map of England showing where the Maps arms are recorded
The Maps arms were recorded in Norfolk, c. 1620.
Norfolk grew rich on wool and grain, and its wealth was spread among many middling families rather than a few great ones. Households of that kind 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 Maps 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 Norfolk.
Origin & History of the Maps Family in England
The surname Maps is a rare English locative name that traces its roots to the county of Norfolk. By the year 1620, records confirm that families bearing this name were established in the region, likely living in small rural parishes where they worked as farmers or tradespeople. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older occupational or topographic surnames that evolved through local pronunciation over several generations. Because the family remained in Norfolk for centuries, their history is deeply tied to the agricultural development and the maritime culture of East Anglia. During the early seventeenth century, life for the Maps family would have centered on the rhythms of the church calendar and the seasonal demands of the local landscape, reflecting the quiet but persistent presence of many families who helped shape the identity of the Norfolk countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mappa
A Latin term referring to a cloth, napkin, or signal flag.
This name
MapsAn occupational surname for a maker or seller of cloths or napkins.
also spelled
Mapeis
Mapis
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Norfolk Record Office, Parish Register Transcripts of Norfolk, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
