Map of England showing where the Sodano arms are recorded
The Sodano arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 Sodano 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Sodano Family in England
The history of the Sodano name is deeply rooted in the social shifts of seventeenth-century England. While the name is often associated with Mediterranean origins, records confirm that family members were established in the county of Kent by 1620. During this period, Kent served as a vital gateway for trade and migration, placing the family in a region characterized by rapid economic change and agricultural development. Early members of the family likely integrated into the local parish systems, which were the primary way of recording births, marriages, and deaths at the time. By settling in this area, the family became part of a community that navigated the transition from the Elizabethan era into the political instability of the mid-seventeenth century. Their presence in Kent suggests they were part of the local yeomanry or merchant classes who helped shape the rural economy of southeastern England.
Sodano Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Sudanus
Derived from the Latin word for southern or from the south.
This name
SodanoAn occupational or habitational surname likely denoting someone who originated from a southern region.
also spelled
Soden
Soddin
Sodden
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers (PROB 11)
Kent History and Library Centre, Archdeaconry of Canterbury: Marriage Licences (PRC 39)
Everitt, Alan, The Community of Kent and the Great Rebellion, 1640–1660, 1966
Spufford, Margaret, Contrasting Communities: English Villagers in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, 1974
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
