Map of England showing where the Severe arms are recorded
The Severe arms were recorded in Merton College, c. 1574.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Severe 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 Severe Family in England
The family name Severe has deep roots in the historic city of York, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1574. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious importance in Northern England. Families with this surname likely lived through the social shifts of the Elizabethan era, a time when many people began to settle into specific trades or crafts within the city walls. The name itself may have originated as a descriptive nickname, possibly referring to a person with a serious or stern demeanor, which was a common way to identify individuals in small communities before formal surnames became strictly standardized. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of York, contributing to the daily life and labor that defined the city during the late sixteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Severus
Latin for stern, strict, or harsh.
This name
SevereA descriptive nickname for a person with a serious, austere, or strict temperament.
also spelled
Sevar
Sevir
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Baines, Edward, History, Directory and Gazetteer of the County of York, 1822
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1574
Palliser, David Michael, Tudor York, 1979
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
