Map of England showing where the Samoan arms are recorded
The Samoan arms were recorded in Nottingham, c. 1620.
Nottinghamshire had coal under it and forest across it, and both were worth money. Families who profited bought manors, and a manor was the ordinary reason for a family to take a 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 Samoan 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 Nottingham.
Origin & History of the Samoan Family in England
The family name Samoan traces its roots to the historic city of Nottingham, where members of the family were established as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, Nottingham was a bustling center for trade and craftsmanship, and families living there were often deeply integrated into the local parish life and the growing mercantile economy of the East Midlands. While the name itself is rare, its presence in early English records suggests a family that was part of the steady development of the region during the Stuart period. These early ancestors likely navigated the social and economic shifts of the time, contributing to the local community through their work and daily interactions. By maintaining a presence in the area during this formative era, the family became a small but permanent part of the historical fabric of Nottingham.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Samo
Derived from the Germanic name Samos meaning victory or battle.
This name
SamoanAn English locational or habitational surname likely referring to someone from a place associated with the name Samo.
also spelled
Samond
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Beckett, John, A Centenary History of Nottingham, 2005
Nottinghamshire Archives, Nottingham St Mary’s Parish Registers, 1566–1812
Train, Keith, Historical Nottingham, 1970
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
