Map of England showing where the Skidmore arms are recorded
The Skidmore 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 Skidmore 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 Skidmore Family in England
The surname Skidmore is of English origin and is derived from a place name that translates to "scattered moor." It likely began as a way to identify people who lived near a specific stretch of open, uncultivated land. By the early seventeenth century, members of the family were well-established in the city of York. These early ancestors were part of a growing urban population during a time of significant social and economic change in England. As the family settled into life in York, they became integrated into the local community, eventually contributing to the history of the region through their trades and civic involvement. This transition from a rural geographic identifier to a recognized family name reflects the broader patterns of migration and identity formation seen across Northern England during the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Scudamore
Derived from the Old French words for shield and bitter or sharp.
This name
SkidmoreAn occupational name for a shield-bearer who carried a sharp or effective defensive weapon.
also spelled
Skidmoor
Related arms
Scudamorevariant spelling
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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spurKnighthood, and readiness to spur on
spurKnighthood, and readiness to spur on
