Map of England showing where the Scarborough arms are recorded
The Scarborough arms were recorded in Norfolk, c. 1620.
Norfolk grew rich on wool and grain, and its wealth was spread among many middling families rather than a few great ones. Households of that kind bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Scarborough 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 Norfolk.
Origin & History of the Scarborough Family in England
The family name Scarborough is a locational surname, meaning it originated from the town of Scarborough in North Yorkshire. During the medieval period, people often adopted the name of their hometown as a way to identify themselves when they moved to new areas. By the early 17th century, members of the family had established themselves in Norfolk, where they became part of the local community. These early ancestors were likely farmers or tradespeople who contributed to the growth of the region during a time of significant social change in England. Their presence in Norfolk by 1620 suggests that the family had successfully migrated from the north and integrated into the southern English landscape well before the major waves of colonial expansion.
Scarborough Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Skarth
Old Norse personal name meaning hare or someone with a hare lip.
This name
ScarboroughRefers to the fortified town or stronghold belonging to a man named Skarth.
also spelled
Scarburgh
Scarbrow
Scarbro
Related arms
Scarbrowvariant spelling
Scarburghvariant spelling
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
Norfolk Record Office, Parish Register Transcripts, 1620
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
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cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
