Map of England showing where the Skipper arms are recorded
The Skipper arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat 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 Skipper 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Skipper Family in England
The surname Skipper is an occupational name that originated in medieval England, derived from the Middle English word "skippere," which referred to a shipmaster or a sailor. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Suffolk, a region with a long history of maritime trade and coastal activity. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Skipper family were living in this area, likely working in roles connected to the local shipping industry or regional agriculture. As the name became hereditary, it moved from being a simple job description to a permanent family identifier. The family’s deep roots in Suffolk suggest they were part of the hardworking local population that helped shape the economic life of East Anglia during the transition into the colonial era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
skip
Old Norse word meaning to ship or to move quickly
This name
SkipperAn occupational surname for a shipmaster or a captain of a vessel
also spelled
Skippar
Skippir
Related arms
Baronrecorded with Skipper, same area
Ivesrecorded with Skipper, same area
Maxeyrecorded with Skipper, same area
Trivettrecorded with Skipper, same area
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
Suffolk Archives, Archdeaconry of Suffolk Probate Records, 1620
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
