Map of England showing where the Shortland arms are recorded
The Shortland 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 Shortland 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 Shortland Family in England
The surname Shortland is a topographic name that likely originated in England to describe someone who lived on or near a specific piece of land. The name is composed of the Old English words "sceort," meaning short, and "land," referring to a plot of ground or a farm. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name were likely farmers or landholders who resided on a small or narrow stretch of property. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the family were well established in the city of York. During this period, York was a bustling center for trade and religious life, and families like the Shortlands were often integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes. As the family grew, they moved beyond their original geographic roots, but the name remains a direct link to the rural landscapes and modest landholdings of their medieval predecessors.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
sceort land
Old English for short or brief piece of cultivated ground.
This name
ShortlandRefers to a person who lived on or owned a small plot of land.
also spelled
Shortlond
Shortlonde
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, 1620
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
