A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Pennant family of England.
Reg. 6444 · English, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Erm. two bars sa. charged with three plates, two and one”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Pennant Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Pennant arms are recorded
The Pennant arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Pennant 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 England.
Origin & History of the Pennant Family in England
The surname Pennant is of Welsh origin and is derived from the words "pen," meaning head or top, and "nant," meaning a valley or brook. This descriptive name likely identified someone who lived at the head of a valley or near the source of a stream. While the name is deeply rooted in the landscape of North Wales, members of the family expanded their reach across Britain over several centuries. By 1620, records confirm that the Pennant family had established a presence in the historic city of York. This migration suggests that the family was involved in the trade and social networks that defined northern English life during the early seventeenth century. Their transition from rural Welsh origins to an urban center like York highlights the mobility of families during this period of history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
pen
A Celtic term meaning head, top, or end of a hill.
This name
PennantDerived from a topographical location referring to someone living at the head of a valley or hill.
also spelled
Penant
Penante
Related arms
George Watkins Rice, Esqsimilar arms
Trevorsimilar arms
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
P.H. Reaney and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
