Map of England showing where the Peden arms are recorded
The Peden arms were recorded in York, c. 1393.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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.
Richard II of England
Sovereign of the period
Richard II of England
1377–1399
Reigning in England when the Peden 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 York.
Origin & History of the Peden Family in England
The Peden family name has deep roots that trace back to the late fourteenth century in northern England. Historical records confirm that members of the family were living in the city of York by 1393. During this period, the surname likely functioned as a descriptive label for an individual, possibly derived from local dialects or occupational terms common in the region. As the family grew, they established themselves within the social and economic fabric of medieval York. Over the following generations, the name spread across the border into Scotland, where it became particularly well-known in the southwestern lowlands. The family history is marked by a transition from these early urban beginnings to a more rural presence in the Scottish countryside, where the name eventually became associated with local traditions and regional identity.
Peden Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Ped
A derivative of the Middle English word for a basket or pannier.
This name
PedenAn occupational surname for a maker or seller of wicker baskets.
also spelled
Upedon
Upedone
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Surtees Society, Testamenta Eboracensia: A Selection of Wills from the Registry at York, 1836
National Records of Scotland, Records of the General Register of Sasines, 1617–1900
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
