Map of England showing where the Shipman arms are recorded
The Shipman arms were recorded in Hereford, c. 1581.
Herefordshire lay on the Welsh border, where land was held in return for military service. Families there were expected to arm and to fight, and a fighting household needed a shield it could be known by.
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 Shipman 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 Hereford.
Origin & History of the Shipman Family in England
The surname Shipman is an occupational name that originated in medieval England to describe a person who worked on or operated a ship. During the Middle Ages, many people were identified by the jobs they performed, and those who served as sailors, ferrymen, or boat operators eventually adopted this title as a permanent family name. By the late sixteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Hereford. Records from 1581 confirm that members of the Shipman family were living and working in this region during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. As the family grew, they integrated into the local community, likely contributing to the regional economy through trade or river transport along the River Wye. This transition from a job description to a hereditary surname reflects the broader social changes occurring in England as families began to settle in specific areas and pass their identities down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
scip
An Old English term referring to a vessel used for water travel.
This name
ShipmanAn occupational surname for a sailor, boatman, or someone who worked on a ship.
also spelled
Shypman
Shipmon
Related arms
Digbyrecorded with Shipman, same area
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
Herefordshire Archives and Records Centre, Bishop's Transcripts of Parish Registers for the Diocese of Hereford, 1581
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
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