Map of England showing where the Sangwan arms are recorded
The Sangwan 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 Sangwan 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 Sangwan Family in England
The history of the Sangwan family name is rooted in the social landscape of seventeenth-century England, with early records confirming their presence in the city of York by 1620. During this period, York served as a major hub for trade and administration, suggesting that the family likely participated in the urban economy as skilled craftspeople or merchants. The name itself reflects the linguistic shifts common to Northern England, where surnames often evolved from local nicknames or descriptive terms related to a person’s occupation or physical traits. As the family established themselves in the region, they became part of the growing middle class that helped shape the civic life of the city. Their documented residence in York during the early 1600s places them in a time of significant transition, as the city moved from its medieval foundations toward the industrial and commercial developments of the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sang-wan
Derived from Old English elements meaning blood or life and protection.
This name
SangwanA topographical or occupational surname likely referring to a guardian of a specific bloodline or boundary.
also spelled
Sangmen
Sangmon
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
Raine, Angelo, Mediaeval York: A Topographical Survey Based on Original Sources, 1955
York City Archives, York House Books, 1620
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pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
