A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Seddon family of England.
Reg. 3602 · English, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
cinquefoilHope and joy
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Or, three cinquefoils sa. a border engr. of the second”
DurhamHartlepool · Durham, c. 1620
Where the Seddon Arms Were Recorded
Durham
Map of England showing where the Seddon arms are recorded
The Seddon arms were recorded in Durham, c. 1620.
Durham was governed by its bishop rather than the crown for most of its history, with its own courts and its own landed class. That separate world produced a tight group of families, nearly all of whom held 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 Seddon 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 Durham.
Origin & History of the Seddon Family in England
The surname Seddon is primarily associated with the historic county of Lancashire in North West England, where it emerged as a locational name derived from a specific place. The name likely refers to a "sedgy hill" or a valley characterized by reeds and marshy ground, reflecting the landscape where the earliest families settled. While the name is deeply rooted in the Lancashire region, historical records confirm that members of the family had expanded their reach by the early seventeenth century. By 1620, the Seddon family was well-established in the city of Durham, suggesting that they were part of the broader movement of families migrating across Northern England for work or trade during the Stuart period. This early presence in Durham highlights how the family transitioned from their rural origins into the growing urban centers of the north.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Seton
A settlement or town belonging to a person named Sae.
This name
SeddonDerived from a locative place name in Lancashire meaning a settlement by the sea.
also spelled
Sedden
Seddun
Related arms
Hollingsworthrecorded with Seddon, same area
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
Ekwall, Eilert, The Place-Names of Lancashire, 1922
Durham County Record Office, Durham Diocesan Records: Bishop’s Transcripts of Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
cinquefoilHope and joy
bordureA difference between branches of one family
cinquefoilHope and joy
