Map of England showing where the Sheppard arms are recorded
The Sheppard arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1570.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Sheppard 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 Sussex.
Origin & History of the Sheppard Family in England
The surname Sheppard is an occupational name that originated in medieval England to describe a person who worked as a shepherd. During a time when surnames were becoming permanent, families often adopted the names of their trades to distinguish themselves within their local communities. By the year 1570, historical records confirm that members of the Sheppard family were firmly established in the county of Sussex. These early ancestors likely lived in the rural landscapes of the South Downs, where the rolling hills provided ideal grazing land for large flocks of sheep. As the wool trade became a vital part of the English economy during the sixteenth century, families with this name played an essential role in the agricultural life of the region. Over many generations, the name transitioned from a simple job description into a lasting family identity that remained rooted in the English countryside.
Sheppard Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
sceap-hierde
Old English for sheep-herd or sheep-keeper.
This name
SheppardAn occupational surname for a person who tended and guarded a flock of sheep.
also spelled
Shepherd
Shepphard
Shepperd
Related arms
Glydesimilar arms
Shephardvariant spelling
Shepherdvariant spelling
Shepperdvariant spelling
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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Sussex Quarter Sessions Records, Q/S
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
