Map of England showing where the Slocombe arms are recorded
The Slocombe arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Slocombe 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 Somerset.
Origin & History of the Slocombe Family in England
The Slocombe family name is deeply rooted in the English county of Somerset, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. The name itself is classified as a topographical surname, which means it was originally used to describe the specific landscape where a person lived. It is derived from the Old English words for a slough or a muddy hollow, combined with the word for a valley or a comb. This suggests that the first people to carry the name were likely farmers or laborers who settled in a low-lying, damp valley within the rolling hills of the West Country. Over many generations, the family became established in the local rural communities, where they contributed to the agricultural development of the region long before the name spread to other parts of Britain and beyond.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Slo-cumb
A muddy valley or hollow.
This name
SlocombeDerived from a topographical location referring to a muddy or miry valley.
also spelled
Slocum
Slocumb
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Somerset Archives, Diocese of Bath and Wells Bishop's Transcripts, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
