Map of England showing where the Short arms are recorded
The Short arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1614.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Short 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Short Family in England
The surname Short originated as a descriptive nickname in medieval England, likely used to identify a person of small stature or someone with a concise manner of speaking. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Kent. Records from 1614 confirm that members of the Short family were living and working within this region during the reign of King James I. During this period, families in Kent were often involved in agriculture or local trade, contributing to the development of the rural economy. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, leaving behind traces in parish registers and legal documents that track their movement and daily lives across the English countryside.
Short Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
sceort
Old English word meaning brief or not tall in stature.
This name
ShortA descriptive nickname for a person of small physical stature or short height.
also spelled
Schort
Related arms
Austenrecorded with Short, same area
Bartonrecorded with Short, same area
Cockramrecorded with Short, same area
Curteisrecorded with Short, 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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Kent Archives, Archdeaconry of Canterbury Marriage Licences, 1614
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
