A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Snapp family of England.
Reg. 7484 · English, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
portcullisProtection of the household, and the guarded gate
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Erm. on a chief az. three portcullises ringed and lined or, quartering, 1st, Gu. two bars or, for HARCOURT; 2nd, Az. a sun in splendour or, for ST. CLARE”
OxfordStandlake · Oxford, c. 1566
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Map of England showing where the Snapp arms are recorded
The Snapp arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1566.
Oxfordshire was farming country with the university at its centre, and both produced families of standing. Scholars and lawyers who did well bought manors nearby, 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Snapp 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 Oxford.
Origin & History of the Snapp Family in England
The family name Snapp has roots that stretch back to the sixteenth century in England. Historical records confirm that members of the family were living in Oxford by 1566. During this period, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Snape or Snappe, which was common before spelling became standardized. The name is believed to be topographic in origin, likely referring to someone who lived near a specific piece of land or a geographical feature known as a "snap." This term often described a steep or sharp piece of ground. As the family grew, they became part of the local community life in Oxfordshire, participating in the trades and social structures of the time. Over the following centuries, the family name spread as individuals moved from these early settlements to other parts of the country and eventually across the Atlantic.
Snapp Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
snappen
Middle Dutch or Middle Low German word meaning to snap or snatch.
This name
SnappA nickname for a quick, sharp, or grasping person.
also spelled
Snapper
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
University of Oxford, Registrum Academiae Oxoniensis, 1566
Foster, Joseph, Alumni Oxonienses: The Members of the University of Oxford, 1500-1714, 1891
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
portcullisProtection of the household, and the guarded gate
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
portcullisProtection of the household, and the guarded gate
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
