Map of England showing where the Scudder arms are recorded
The Scudder arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Scudder 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 Scudder Family in England
The Scudder family name originated in England, where it functioned as an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "scuder" or "scutard." This term historically referred to a person who worked as a shield-bearer or a squire, indicating that the earliest ancestors likely served in a military or administrative capacity for local nobility. By the early 17th century, the family had established a significant presence in the county of Kent, particularly in the town of Horton Kirby. Records from this period show that members of the family were active members of their local parishes and communities. In 1620, the family began a new chapter when Thomas Scudder and his wife Elizabeth departed from Kent to settle in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This migration marked the beginning of the family's long history in North America, where they continued to be known for their involvement in early colonial governance and agriculture.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
scud
To move or run quickly or move along swiftly.
This name
ScudderAn occupational surname for a scout, a swift runner, or a person who moved quickly.
also spelled
Skudder
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Banks, Charles Edward, The Planters of the Commonwealth: A Study of the Emigrants and Emigrations in Colonial Times: 1620–1640, 1930
Coldham, Peter Wilson, The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1607–1660, 1987
The National Archives (UK), Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, PROB 11
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
cinquefoilHope and joy
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
cinquefoilHope and joy
