Map of England showing where the Pulling arms are recorded
The Pulling arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
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 Pulling 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 England.
Origin & History of the Pulling Family in England
The surname Pulling is an ancient English name that likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a reference to a specific trade. Etymologists often link the name to the Old English word "pull," which could have referred to someone who worked with wool or perhaps someone who lived near a specific pool of water. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Pulling family were living and working in this northern hub by 1620, placing them in the city during a time of significant social and religious change in England. These early ancestors were part of the growing urban population that helped shape the local economy and community life of York during the reign of King James I.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Pull
A Middle English term derived from the verb meaning to pluck or pull.
This name
PullingAn occupational surname for a person who gathered or plucked crops or wool.
also spelled
Pullen
Pullin
Related arms
Pulleynsame arms
Pullenvariant spelling
Clutterbuckrecorded with Pulling, 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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
