Map of England showing where the Sainsbury arms are recorded
The Sainsbury 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 Sainsbury 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 Sainsbury Family in England
The surname Sainsbury originated as a locative name, which means it was likely taken from a specific place or settlement in England. While the exact origins are debated, the name is deeply rooted in the southern counties, with historical records confirming that members of the family were well-established in Hampshire by 1620. During the seventeenth century, families in this region were often involved in local agriculture or trade, living in small rural parishes where their names were recorded in church registers during baptisms, marriages, and burials. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the development of their communities through their work and daily lives. The name itself serves as a historical marker of these early settlers who helped shape the landscape of southern England long before the family name became associated with modern commerce.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sæbeorn
Derived from Old English elements meaning sea and bear.
This name
SainsburyA habitational name referring to a settlement associated with a person named Sæbeorn.
also spelled
Sainsbery
Related arms
Burninghamrecorded with Sainsbury, 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
Hampshire Archives, Bishop's Transcripts of Parish Registers, 1620
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
