Map of England showing where the Pare arms are recorded
The Pare arms were recorded in Nottingham, c. 1620.
Nottinghamshire had coal under it and forest across it, and both were worth money. Families who profited bought manors, and a manor was the ordinary reason for a family to take a coat 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 Pare 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 Nottingham.
Origin & History of the Pare Family in England
The surname Pare is rooted in the linguistic traditions of medieval England, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a shortened form of a given name. By the early 17th century, records confirm that members of the Pare family were established in Nottingham. During this period, Nottingham was a growing center of trade and industry, and families like the Pares often played vital roles in the local economy as skilled tradespeople or merchants. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Old French word par, meaning equal or peer, which may have originally identified someone who held a specific social standing or was known for a fair temperament. As the family settled into the Nottinghamshire region, they became part of the fabric of local parish life, leaving behind traces in baptismal and marriage registers that document their steady presence in the community for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Petrus
A Greek word meaning a stone or a rock.
This name
PareA medieval patronymic form derived from the personal name Peter.
also spelled
Paire
Pear
Payer
Related arms
Briggerecorded with Pare, same area
Manfieldrecorded with Pare, same area
Mansfieldrecorded with Pare, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Nottinghamshire Archives, Nottingham St Mary’s Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
