A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Pennyman family of England.
Reg. 2147 · English, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lanceKnightly service and the tilt
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Gu. a chev. erm. betw. three half spears, broken staves or, headed ar”
YorkOrmsby · York, c. 1559
Where the Pennyman Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Pennyman arms are recorded
The Pennyman arms were recorded in York, c. 1559.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Pennyman 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 Pennyman Family in England
The Pennyman family name is rooted in the northern regions of England, with historical records confirming their presence in York as early as 1559. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive occupational surname, suggesting that an early ancestor may have been a merchant or a collector who dealt specifically in pennies or small currency. By the mid-sixteenth century, the family began to establish themselves within the social and political fabric of Yorkshire. They gradually moved from urban life in York toward the management of landed estates in the surrounding countryside. This transition allowed the family to gain influence in local government and regional administration over the following generations. Their early history reflects the broader movement of ambitious families who rose from trade and civic service to become prominent members of the northern English gentry.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
penning
An Old English term for a coin or a monetary unit.
This name
PennymanAn occupational name for a tax collector or someone who dealt with money.
also spelled
Pinnyman
Related arms
Clererecorded with Pennyman, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Clay, John William, Dugdale's Visitation of Yorkshire, with Additions, 1899
Foster, Joseph, Pedigrees of the County Families of Yorkshire, 1874
North Yorkshire County Record Office, The Pennyman of Ormesby Hall Collection, ZFM
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
lanceKnightly service and the tilt
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lanceKnightly service and the tilt
