Map of England showing where the Martinsen arms are recorded
The Martinsen arms were recorded in Newcastle-on Tyne, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Martinsen 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 England.
Origin & History of the Martinsen Family in England
The surname Martinsen is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of a man named Martin. This naming tradition was common across Scandinavia and Northern Europe, where the suffix "sen" or "son" was added to the father's given name to establish family lineage. By the year 1620, records indicate that members of the Martinsen family had established a presence in York. During this period, families often moved across the North Sea for trade or religious reasons, bringing their naming customs with them into new communities. As these families settled in England, the name served as a direct link to their ancestral roots while they integrated into the local society of the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Martinus
Derived from Mars, the Roman god of war.
This name
MartinsenA patronymic surname meaning son of Martin, denoting a descendant of a follower of Mars.
also spelled
Martynson
Martenson
Martinsonne
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I, SP 14
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
