Map of England showing where the Marwood arms are recorded
The Marwood arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1596.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Marwood 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Marwood Family in England
The surname Marwood is a locative name, meaning it likely originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal nickname. The name is derived from Old English roots, combining the words for a boundary or a marsh with the word for a wood or forest. This suggests that the earliest ancestors lived near a wooded area that served as a local landmark or a border between two territories. By the late 16th century, the family was well-established in the county of Devon, particularly around the town of Honiton. Records from 1596 confirm their presence in this region, where they were often involved in local landholding and community life. Over the following generations, the family became deeply rooted in the social and economic landscape of the West Country, maintaining their connection to the Devonshire countryside for centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
mere and wudu
Old English for lake or boundary and wood or forest.
This name
MarwoodRefers to someone who lived near a boundary forest or a lake in the woods.
also spelled
Marwode
Related arms
Marewood, or Marwoodvariant spelling
Merwoodvariant spelling
Tuckerrecorded with Marwood, 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 British Surnames, 1958
Hoskins, W.G., Devon, 1954
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, PROB 11
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
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
