Map of England showing where the Marks arms are recorded
The Marks arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Marks 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Marks Family in England
The surname Marks is a patronymic name, which means it originated from the given name Mark. This name is derived from the Latin word Marcus, which was likely linked to Mars, the Roman god of war. By the time the family was firmly established in the English county of Suffolk in 1620, the name had evolved from a simple first name into a hereditary surname passed down through generations. Families in this region during the early seventeenth century were often involved in agriculture or local trade, and the name became a permanent way to identify their lineage within the community. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of East Anglia, contributing to the local economy and the development of the region during a period of significant historical change in England.
Marks Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Marcus
Derived from the Roman god of war Mars.
This name
MarksA patronymic surname meaning son of Mark, indicating a descendant of a person named Mark.
also spelled
Markes
Marques
Marke
Related arms
Markevariant spelling
Markesvariant spelling
Bennetrecorded with Marks, same area
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, 1958
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
The National Archives, Probate records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1620
Suffolk Archives, Parish registers of Suffolk, 1620
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
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
