A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Meres family of England.
Reg. 1545 · English, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Paly of six or and az. a chief gu. three crosses formée of the first”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Meres Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Meres arms are recorded
The Meres arms were recorded in England, 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 Meres 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 Meres Family in England
The surname Meres is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, where it likely functioned as a topographic name for families living near a boundary or a body of water. Derived from the Old English word mere, which refers to a lake, pool, or a defined border, the name suggests that the earliest ancestors were tied to a specific geographic feature. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Meres family were living in this northern hub by 1620, a time when York served as a vital center for trade, religion, and regional governance. Living in such a prominent city suggests that these early family members were likely integrated into the urban economy, perhaps working as merchants or skilled tradespeople during a period of significant growth for the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
mere
An Old English term referring to a boundary, lake, or pool.
This name
MeresA topographic name for someone who lived near a boundary marker or a body of water.
also spelled
Mears
Meere
Related arms
Mearesvariant spelling
Mearsvariant spelling
Meerevariant spelling
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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
