Map of England showing where the Metcalfe arms are recorded
The Metcalfe arms were recorded in York, c. 1483.
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.
Edward IV of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward IV of England
1471–1483
Reigning in England when the Metcalfe 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 Metcalfe Family in England
The Metcalfe family name originated in the rugged landscape of Northern England, specifically within the historic county of Yorkshire. The name is locative in nature, likely derived from a geographical feature such as a deep valley or a specific pasture used for livestock. By the late fifteenth century, the family had established a significant presence in the city of York, as evidenced by records from 1483. During this period, the Metcalfes became deeply integrated into the social and political fabric of the region, often serving as influential figures in local governance and land management. Their rise to prominence was tied to the shifting power structures of the Middle Ages, where families from the north often consolidated wealth through agriculture and service to the crown. This early history reflects a transition from local landholders to established members of the provincial gentry, marking the family as a notable part of Yorkshire’s long-standing heritage.
Metcalfe Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mete-calf
Old English words for boundary or measure and a young cow.
This name
MetcalfeA dweller by the boundary of a calf pasture or grazing land.
also spelled
Medcalfe
Medcalf
Related arms
Medcalfvariant spelling
Flayrecorded with Metcalfe, same area
Gregsonrecorded with Metcalfe, same area
Mellerrecorded with Metcalfe, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Speight, Harry, Romantic Richmondshire: Being a Complete Account of the History, Antiquities and Scenery of the Dales of the Swale, Ure and Nidd, 1897
Surtees Society, Testamenta Eboracensia: A Selection of Wills from the Registry at York, 1869
The National Archives, Early Chancery Proceedings, C 1/59/236, 1475–1485
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