Map of England showing where the Seagraves arms are recorded
The Seagraves 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 Seagraves 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 Seagraves Family in England
The surname Seagraves is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, where it likely originated as a topographical name for people living near a specific grove or wooded area by the sea. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the family were living in this region by 1620, a time when York served as a vital center for trade and administration in Northern England. As the family grew, they integrated into the local economy and social structure of the city, transitioning from their rural origins to become part of the urban fabric of Yorkshire. This migration from the countryside to the city was a common pattern during this era, reflecting the broader movement of families seeking new opportunities within England’s growing regional hubs.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
sae-graf
Old English for sea or lake and a trench or ditch.
This name
SeagravesRefers to someone who lived near a coastal trench or a drainage ditch.
also spelled
Segrave
Seagraive
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
