Map of England showing where the Pound arms are recorded
The Pound arms were recorded in Hants, c. 1620.
Hampshire had the naval dockyards at Portsmouth on one side and good farmland on the other. Sea money and land money both bought estates, and an estate was what brought a family its 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 Pound 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 Hants.
Origin & History of the Pound Family in England
The surname Pound is classified as a topographic name, which means it was originally given to people based on the landscape where they lived. In medieval England, a pound was a fenced enclosure used to hold stray livestock until the owners could claim them. A person who lived near such an enclosure, or perhaps someone who worked as the official in charge of one, likely adopted the name to distinguish themselves in their local community. By the year 1620, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Hampshire. During this era, families often stayed within the same region for generations, allowing the Pound name to become deeply rooted in the local history and agricultural life of the area.
Pound Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Pund
An enclosure or a place where stray animals were confined.
This name
PoundAn occupational name for an official in charge of a pound for stray livestock.
also spelled
Pownd
Pownde
Related arms
Pondevariant spelling
Bassetrecorded with Pound, same area
Cheyneyrecorded with Pound, same area
Perrottrecorded with Pound, same area
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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
