Map of England showing where the Shepard arms are recorded
The Shepard arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1574.
Shropshire lay on the Welsh border, and border country needed men who could fight. Families held their land in return for service, and service in arms is what a coat of arms was originally for.
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 Shepard 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 Salop.
Origin & History of the Shepard Family in England
The surname Shepard is an occupational name that originated in medieval England to describe a person who tended flocks of sheep. Because sheep farming was a vital part of the economy, this job was common in many rural villages. By the late sixteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Salop, which is also known as Shropshire. Records from 1574 confirm that members of the family were living and working in this region during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. As the family grew, they moved into various trades and professions, but their name remained a permanent link to the pastoral landscape of the English countryside. Over time, the spelling of the name evolved from early variations like Shepherd or Shephard into the modern form used today.
Shepard Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
sceap-hierde
Old English words for sheep and a keeper or guardian.
This name
ShepardAn occupational surname for a person who tended and herded flocks of sheep.
also spelled
Shephard
Sheperd
Related arms
Shephardvariant spelling
Shepheardvariant spelling
Shepherdvariant spelling
Shepperdvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
Shropshire Archives, Diocese of Lichfield records: Parish registers for the county of Salop, 1574
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
