Map of England showing where the Shinners arms are recorded
The Shinners arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Shinners 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 Shinners Family in England
The family name Shinners has deep roots in the historic city of York, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and craftsmanship, and families like the Shinners were often integrated into the local urban economy. The name itself is thought to be a variation of occupational or descriptive surnames common in Northern England, likely evolving from local dialects that identified individuals by their trade or physical traits. As residents of a major northern hub, the early Shinners family would have witnessed the significant social and religious shifts of the seventeenth century, including the rise of new industries and the changing political landscape of the English Civil War. By establishing themselves in York, these early ancestors helped set the foundation for the family name to persist through generations of English history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Scinnere
Old English term for a skinner or a worker in hides.
This name
ShinnersAn occupational surname for someone who prepared or traded animal skins and hides.
also spelled
Skynners
Skinnars
Skynner
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
