A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Simes family of England.
Reg. 1457 · English, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Erm. three increscents gu”
NorthamptonDaventry · Northampton, c. 1592
Where the Simes Arms Were Recorded
Northampton
Map of England showing where the Simes arms are recorded
The Simes arms were recorded in Northampton, c. 1592.
Northamptonshire was grazing and hunting country in the middle of England, thick with manor houses. Its families were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Simes 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 Northampton.
Origin & History of the Simes Family in England
The family name Simes is rooted in the English Midlands, with documented evidence placing members of the family in Northampton as early as 1592. The name likely evolved as a patronymic, which means it was derived from the given name of an ancestor. In this case, it is widely believed to be a variation of Simon, a name that became popular across England following the Norman Conquest. During the late sixteenth century, Northampton was a bustling center for trade and leather production, providing a stable environment for families to establish their roots. As the Simes family settled into the local community, they became part of the social and economic fabric of the town. Over time, the spelling of the name stabilized into its current form as it was recorded in parish registers and legal documents. This early presence in Northampton suggests that the family was well-integrated into the life of the region during the Elizabethan era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Simon
Derived from the Hebrew name Shim'on meaning he has heard.
This name
SimesA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Simon.
also spelled
Simes
Syms
Sim
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Northamptonshire Archives, Northampton St Sepulchre Parish Registers, 1592
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
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crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
