Map of England showing where the Southern arms are recorded
The Southern arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Southern 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 England.
Origin & History of the Southern Family in England
The surname Southern is a locative name, meaning it was originally used to describe someone who lived in the southern part of a specific region or country. In medieval England, people often received surnames based on their geographic location or their direction of travel relative to their neighbors. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Southern family were established in the historic city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and religious life in Northern England. Families living in the city at that time were often involved in local guilds or the wool trade, which allowed them to build stable lives within the city walls. Because the name identifies a person by their origin, it suggests that early ancestors may have migrated from a southern territory to settle in the north. This movement was common as people sought new opportunities in growing urban centers like York.
Southern Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Suth
Old English term for the direction south.
This name
SouthernA topographic name for someone who lived in the southern part of a settlement or region.
also spelled
Suthern
Sowthern
Suthren
Related arms
Sothernevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
The National Archives, Lay Subsidy Rolls for the County of York
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
