Map of England showing where the Plaisance arms are recorded
The Plaisance arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a 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 Plaisance 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Plaisance Family in England
The surname Plaisance originates from the Old French word *plaisance*, which translates to pleasure or delight. It was often used as a descriptive nickname for a person with a cheerful disposition or as a topographic name for someone who lived near a pleasant or agreeable location. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were established in the county of Suffolk, England. During this period, the name likely arrived in Britain through migration from France, as many families moved across the English Channel for trade or religious reasons. These early settlers in Suffolk integrated into the local community, leaving traces in parish registers and legal documents that document their transition into English life. Over the following centuries, the family name remained tied to these regional roots while evolving alongside the shifting social landscape of the British Isles.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
placere
Latin verb meaning to please or to be agreeable.
This name
PlaisanceDerived from a place name in France, signifying a pleasant or agreeable location.
also spelled
Plesance
Plesaunce
Pleasans
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
The National Archives, Suffolk Parish Registers and Bishop's Transcripts, 1600–1650
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
cross symbolChristian faith and service
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
