Map of England showing where the Metcalf arms are recorded
The Metcalf arms were recorded in Goldsmith, c. 1568.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Metcalf 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 Metcalf Family in England
The surname Metcalf is a locational name that originated in the rugged landscape of Northern England. It is derived from the Old English words "mete," meaning food or pasture, and "calf," suggesting that the family likely managed land used for raising young cattle. By the mid-sixteenth century, the family had established a strong presence in the city of York, where records from 1568 confirm their residence and involvement in local society. During this period, the Metcalf family was known for being influential landowners and community leaders in the Yorkshire region. Their history is deeply tied to the agricultural traditions of the north, and their name reflects the practical work that defined their early lives in the English countryside.
Metcalf Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mete-calf
Old English words for boundary or measure and calf.
This name
MetcalfA dweller near a boundary or a calf pasture.
also spelled
Medcalf
Medcalfe
Related arms
Medcalfvariant 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, 1568
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bullValour and generosity
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bullValour and generosity
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
