Map of England showing where the Slocum arms are recorded
The Slocum 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 Slocum 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 Slocum Family in England
The Slocum family name traces its roots to the English county of Somerset, where records confirm members of the family were living by the year 1620. The name is believed to be locative in origin, meaning it likely described a specific place where the earliest ancestors resided. Linguists suggest the name evolved from Old English terms referring to a valley or a hollow where sloe bushes grew. This connection to the landscape implies that the family were likely farmers or rural residents who became identified by the unique geography of their home. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established deep roots in the region before some members eventually sought new opportunities across the Atlantic. This transition marked the beginning of the family’s long history in North America, where they continued to carry the name forward through successive generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Slocombe
A valley where sloe bushes grow.
This name
SlocumDerived from a locational surname referring to a person living in a sloe-filled valley.
also spelled
Slocum
Slocumb
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Banks, Charles Edward, The English Ancestry and Homes of the Pilgrim Fathers, 1929
Slocum, Charles Elihu, A Short History of the Slocums, Slocumbs and Slocombs of America, 1882
Somerset Archives, Quarter Sessions Records, 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
