A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mobbs family of England.
Reg. 0693 · English, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Vert a cross pattée betw. four doves ar”
NorfolkHoughton · Norfolk, c. 1620
Where the Mobbs Arms Were Recorded
Norfolk
Map of England showing where the Mobbs arms are recorded
The Mobbs arms were recorded in Norfolk, c. 1620.
Norfolk grew rich on wool and grain, and its wealth was spread among many middling families rather than a few great ones. Households of that kind bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Mobbs 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 Norfolk.
Origin & History of the Mobbs Family in England
The surname Mobbs is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person by their father’s name. It is a derivative of the medieval given name Mobbe, which served as a common nickname for Robert. By the early seventeenth century, the family was well-established in the county of Norfolk, England. During this period, the region was a center for agriculture and the thriving wool trade, which likely provided the economic foundation for families living in the area. Members of the Mobbs family were part of the local rural communities that shaped the social landscape of East Anglia before the major migrations of the seventeenth century. Their presence in Norfolk by 1620 suggests deep roots in the English countryside, where they lived as farmers, tradespeople, or laborers during a time of significant transition in British history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Robert
A Germanic name meaning bright fame or shining glory.
This name
MobbsA medieval diminutive form of the name Robert, often used as a pet name.
also spelled
Mobbes
Mobes
Related arms
Meeresrecorded with Mobbs, same area
Michellrecorded with Mobbs, same area
Mortonrecorded with Mobbs, same area
Nobbesrecorded with Mobbs, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
Norfolk Record Office, Parish Registers for Norfolk, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
cross symbolChristian faith and service
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
