Map of England showing where the Marden arms are recorded
The Marden arms were recorded in Hereford, c. 1620.
Herefordshire lay on the Welsh border, where land was held in return for military service. Families there were expected to arm and to fight, and a fighting household needed a shield it could be known by.
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 Marden 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 Hereford.
Origin & History of the Marden Family in England
The surname Marden is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place rather than an occupation or a personal trait. Historical records confirm that the family was well-established in the county of Herefordshire by the early 17th century, specifically appearing in parish registers around 1620. The name likely originates from the village of Marden, located near the River Lugg in Herefordshire. In Old English, the name is thought to combine the words for a boundary or border with the word for a valley, suggesting that the first people to carry the name lived near a significant geographic marker. As families moved away from their ancestral village to seek work or land in nearby towns, they kept the name of their home as a way to identify their origins to others. This practice was common in medieval England and helped historians trace the movement of families across the countryside over several centuries.
Marden Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Maer-denu
Old English for a boundary or pool located in a valley.
This name
MardenRefers to someone who lived near a valley boundary or a woodland pasture.
also spelled
Mardon
Merdon
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
Herefordshire Archives and Records Centre, Parish Registers of Marden, Herefordshire, 1600–1650
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
