Map of England showing where the Sharples arms are recorded
The Sharples arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1567.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 Sharples 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Sharples Family in England
The surname Sharples originated as a locative name, meaning it was taken from a specific place rather than a trade or personal characteristic. The name refers to the township of Sharples, which was located near Bolton in the county of Lancashire. During the medieval period, families who moved away from this small settlement often became known by the name of their home village to distinguish them from others in the region. By the mid-sixteenth century, the family had established a firm presence in the wider Lancashire area, with records confirming their residence in Lancaster by 1567. Over the following generations, the name spread throughout Northern England as family members moved to nearby towns for work in agriculture and early textile industries. This steady migration helped the name transition from a local geographic marker into a widespread family identity that has persisted for centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
scearp and laes
Old English words for sharp or steep and a pasture or meadow.
This name
SharplesRefers to a person who lived near a steep pasture or a sharp-edged meadow.
also spelled
Sharplesse
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Place-Names of Lancashire. 1922
Farrer, William and Brownbill, John. A History of the County of Lancaster. 1906
Lancashire Archives. Lancaster Parish Registers: Baptisms, Marriages and Burials. 1567
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
