Map of England showing where the Nottingham arms are recorded
The Nottingham arms were recorded in Gloucester, c. 1620.
Gloucestershire had good farmland, a cloth trade in its valleys and a river carrying goods to Bristol. All three made money, and money bought the estates that brought arms with them.
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 Nottingham 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 Gloucester.
Origin & History of the Nottingham Family in England
The surname Nottingham is a locative name, meaning it originated from people who migrated from the town of Nottingham in the East Midlands of England to other parts of the country. During the medieval period, it was common for individuals to be identified by their place of origin when they moved to a new town or city. By the early 17th century, members of the family had established themselves in the historic city of Gloucester. Records confirm their presence there by 1620, suggesting that the family had moved westward from their ancestral roots to participate in the growing trade and civic life of the Severn Valley. This movement reflects the broader patterns of internal migration in England, where families often settled in new regions to pursue professional opportunities while carrying their geographic identity as a permanent surname.
Nottingham Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Snotingaham
The homestead of the people of Snot, a Saxon chieftain.
This name
NottinghamRefers to the settlement associated with the followers of a man named Snot.
also spelled
Nottingam
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
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain, 1890
Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucester City Records: Burgess Rolls and Admissions, 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
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
