Map of England showing where the Prime arms are recorded
The Prime arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1620.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic records.
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 Prime 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 Sussex.
Origin & History of the Prime Family in England
The surname Prime is rooted in the linguistic traditions of medieval England, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname. The name is derived from the Old French word "prim," which means first or early, and it was often used to describe someone who was born first or perhaps someone who held a position of importance. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Prime family were well-established in the county of Sussex. During this period, families in Sussex were often deeply connected to the local agricultural economy and the growing trade networks of the southern coast. As the family settled into their community, they became part of the social fabric of the region, contributing to the local parish life and the development of the English countryside. The presence of the name in Sussex during the early seventeenth century marks a significant point in the family history, as it reflects a time when many families were firmly planting their roots in specific English shires.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
primus
Latin term meaning first, foremost, or chief.
This name
PrimeA nickname for a firstborn child or a person of superior rank.
also spelled
Pryme
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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
West Sussex Record Office, Parish Registers of Sussex, 1620
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legStrength and swiftness
legStrength and swiftness
