Map of England showing where the Parkhouse arms are recorded
The Parkhouse arms were recorded in Hants, c. 1620.
Hampshire had the naval dockyards at Portsmouth on one side and good farmland on the other. Sea money and land money both bought estates, and an estate was what brought a family its 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 Parkhouse 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 Hants.
Origin & History of the Parkhouse Family in England
The surname Parkhouse is a topographical name, which means it was originally given to people based on the landscape where they lived. It likely described someone who resided near the enclosed grounds of a park or a manor estate. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Parkhouse family were well-established in the county of Hampshire. During this period, families in this region were often tied to the land through agriculture or local trade. As the name spread from its point of origin, it became a distinct marker for families living in or near these specific fenced woodland areas. Over time, the name became a permanent way to identify these households as they moved through the rural communities of southern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Park and House
An enclosed area of land and a dwelling or building.
This name
ParkhouseRefers to someone who lived in a house located within or near an enclosed park or game preserve.
also spelled
Parkhowse
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, 1991
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
