Map of England showing where the Simmonds arms are recorded
The Simmonds 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 Simmonds 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 Simmonds Family in England
The surname Simmonds is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Simon. The name Simon itself comes from the Hebrew language and carries the meaning of one who hears or listens. By the time the family was firmly established in York in 1620, the spelling had begun to stabilize into the form we recognize today. During this period, families in northern England often lived in close-knit communities where names were passed down through generations to maintain a sense of lineage. Because York was a major center for trade and administration in the seventeenth century, members of the Simmonds family likely participated in the local economy as merchants, craftsmen, or laborers. Their presence in the city records from that time suggests they were well-integrated into the social fabric of the region, contributing to the growth and daily life of the historic city.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Simon
Derived from the Hebrew name Shimon meaning he has heard.
This name
SimmondsA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Simon.
also spelled
Symonds
Simunds
Symunds
Symond
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
