Map of England showing where the Sayers arms are recorded
The Sayers arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1568.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Sayers 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Sayers Family in England
The surname Sayers is primarily occupational in origin, evolving from the Middle English term "say," which referred to a type of fine wool or silk fabric. During the medieval period, a person who manufactured or sold this cloth was often known as a "sayer." By the time the family was firmly established in the county of Kent in 1568, the name had become a stable hereditary surname passed down through generations. Kent was a hub for the textile trade during the sixteenth century, making it a logical place for families associated with the cloth industry to settle and prosper. As the family grew, they integrated into the local community, leaving records in parish registers and tax documents that highlight their presence in the region during the transition from the Tudor era into the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
saier
Old French term for an assayer or a tester of metals.
This name
SayersAn occupational surname for someone who tested the purity of precious metals.
also spelled
Saires
Sayres
Sayers
Sarre
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Kent Archives, Archdeaconry of Canterbury Wills and Administrations, PRC 17
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
saracens head affronty coupedA crusade fought, and an enemy met in the field
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
saracens head affronty coupedA crusade fought, and an enemy met in the field
