A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Polter family of England.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. two bendlets sa”
The Polter arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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.
Reigning in England when the Polter arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Polter is rooted in the linguistic traditions of medieval England, where it likely originated as an occupational name. It was commonly used to describe a person who worked as a poulterer, which was a merchant responsible for selling poultry and game birds at local markets. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Essex. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Polter family were living and working within this region during a time of significant social and economic transition. As these individuals settled into their communities, the name became a permanent fixture in local parish registers and legal documents. This transition from a job title to a hereditary surname reflects the way many English families identified themselves through their daily contributions to the village economy.
A noisy or mischievous spirit that causes physical disturbances.
