Map of England showing where the Shepherd arms are recorded
The Shepherd arms were recorded in Derby, c. 1611.
Derbyshire had lead mines in its hills and good grazing in its valleys. Both made steady money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names into the heraldic 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Shepherd 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 Derby.
Origin & History of the Shepherd Family in England
The surname Shepherd originated as an occupational name, identifying individuals who made their living by tending to flocks of sheep. In medieval England, this was a vital role in the rural economy, as wool was the country's most important export. By the time the family was documented in Derby in 1611, the name had become a permanent hereditary surname passed down through generations. Families with this name were often deeply integrated into the local community life of market towns like Derby, where the wool trade and livestock management were central to daily survival. Because the name was tied to a common profession, it appeared independently in many different regions across England, meaning that people named Shepherd do not necessarily share a single common ancestor. Instead, the name reflects a shared history of agricultural labor that defined the lives of many working families in the early seventeenth century.
Shepherd Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
sceap-hierde
Old English compound meaning sheep and guardian or keeper.
This name
ShepherdAn occupational surname for a person who tended and herded flocks of sheep.
also spelled
Shepard
Sheppard
Shephard
Related arms
Thwaitessame arms
Shepardvariant spelling
Shephardvariant spelling
Shepheardvariant 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, 1991
Derbyshire Record Office, Derby St Alkmund Parish Registers, 1611
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
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
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
