Map of England showing where the Memmott arms are recorded
The Memmott arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1691.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic records.
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.
Mary II of England
Sovereign of the period
Mary II of England
1689–1694
Reigning in England when the Memmott 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 Sussex.
Origin & History of the Memmott Family in England
The family name Memmott is rooted in the historical landscape of England, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the county of Sussex as early as 1691. The name is considered a locative or habitational surname, which suggests that the earliest ancestors likely took the name from a specific place, farm, or small settlement where they resided. During the seventeenth century, families often became identified by the land they worked or the villages they inhabited, leading to the formalization of surnames in parish registers. As the family established itself in Sussex, they were part of a period of significant social and economic change in rural England. Over time, the name persisted through generations, moving from local identification to a permanent family heritage that reflects the regional history of southern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Maimot
A diminutive form of the Old French personal name Maimo.
This name
MemmottDerived from a pet form of the name Maimo, likely meaning protector or defender.
also spelled
Meymote
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Lower, Mark Antony. Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom. 1860
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
The National Archives, Kew. Parish registers of Sussex, Series reference: RG 4
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
