Map of England showing where the Perks arms are recorded
The Perks 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 Perks 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 Perks Family in England
The surname Perks is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son or descendant of someone named Peter. During the Middle Ages, Peter was often shortened to the nickname Perk or Perke, and adding an "s" to the end indicated that the individual belonged to the family of that person. By the time members of the Perks family were established in York in 1620, the name had become a permanent hereditary surname passed down through generations. Living in a major northern center like York suggests that early ancestors were likely involved in the city’s vibrant trade networks, such as weaving, tanning, or the bustling merchant guilds that defined the local economy during the seventeenth century. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, contributing to the daily life and labor that sustained one of England’s most historic cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Peter
Derived from the Greek word petros meaning stone or rock.
This name
PerksA patronymic surname meaning son of Perk, a medieval diminutive of Peter.
also spelled
Perke
Related arms
Perkevariant spelling
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, 1997
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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