Map of England showing where the Prickett arms are recorded
The Prickett arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Prickett 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 Prickett Family in England
The surname Prickett is an English habitational or descriptive name that likely emerged during the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "pricket," which referred to a young male deer in its second year. This suggests that the name may have originally been a nickname for a person who was quick or agile, or perhaps someone who worked as a gamekeeper or hunter. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Prickett family were well-established in the city of York. During this era, the family was deeply integrated into the local community, with records showing them participating in the civic and religious life of the region. As the family grew, they became notable figures within the city, often serving in administrative roles and contributing to the historical development of Northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Prik
A Middle English term referring to a sharp point or spike.
This name
PrickettA topographic name for someone living near a pointed hill or a nickname for a slender person.
also spelled
Pryckett
Prycket
Related arms
Hellerdrecorded with Prickett, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
cross symbolChristian faith and service
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
