Map of England showing where the Morden arms are recorded
The Morden arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Morden 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Morden Family in England
The surname Morden is a locational name, which means it was originally given to people who lived in or near a specific place. In the case of this family, the name is derived from the Old English words for a moor and a valley, suggesting that the earliest ancestors lived near a marshy or open tract of land. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Morden family were well-established in the county of Kent. During this period, families in Kent were often involved in local agriculture or trade, benefiting from the region's proximity to London and its busy coastal ports. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, leaving behind traces in parish registers and land documents that help historians map their movement across the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mor-dun
Old English elements meaning moor or marsh and hill.
This name
MordenA habitational name referring to someone who lived on a hill near a moor.
also spelled
Mordon
Mordan
Mourdant
Related arms
Mordonvariant 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
Kent Archives, Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury Wills, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
otterOne who lives life to the full
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
otterOne who lives life to the full
