A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mayers family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1310 · Britain, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un vaisseau à l'antique de trois mâts de sa., les pavillons de gu., soutenu d'une mer au nat.; au canton de gu., ch. d'une épée d'arg., garnie d'or, en bande, et d'un bâton de commandement d'or, en barre, passés en saut., dans une couronne murale d'arg. C.: une sirène au nat., ceinte d'une couronne murale d'or. D.: NON DORMIAT QUI CUSTODIT.”
BritainLondres, c. 1700
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Map of Britain showing where the Mayers arms are recorded
The Mayers arms were recorded in Londres, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Mayers arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Mayers Family in Britain
The surname Mayers has deep roots in the English landscape, particularly within the county of Kent where families bearing the name were well-established by the year 1700. The name is generally classified as a patronymic or occupational surname, often derived from the Middle English word "mair" or "mayor." In early British society, a mayor was a significant local official responsible for managing town affairs, and the name likely identified someone who served in this role or lived near the home of such an official. By the turn of the 18th century, families in Kent were often tied to the land through farming or local trade, contributing to the growth of rural communities in the southeast of England. As the population moved and evolved, these families helped define the local social structure, leaving behind records in parish registers and tax rolls that track their steady presence across the English countryside.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. a lymphad sa”
YorkGristhorpe Filey · York, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Mayers arms are recorded
The Mayers arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Britain when the Mayers 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 York.
Origin & History of the Mayers Family in England
The surname Mayers traces its roots to the occupational and personal naming traditions of medieval England, where it often identified a person as a servant or a follower of a mayor. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Mayers family were active participants in the social and economic life of this northern hub. During this period, York served as a vital center for trade and administration, providing a stable environment for families to build their livelihoods. As the name spread through the region, it became linked to the local community, reflecting the steady growth and integration of the family within the shifting landscape of English society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
maior
Latin term meaning greater or superior in rank.
This name
MayersAn occupational surname for a steward, bailiff, or a person of higher social standing.
also spelled
Miers
Myres
Mires
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
Kent Archives, Canterbury Cathedral Archives: Parish Registers of Kent, 1700
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
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
swordJustice, and military honour
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
swordJustice, and military honour
