Map of England showing where the Southworth arms are recorded
The Southworth arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1567.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 Southworth 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Southworth Family in England
The surname Southworth is a locational name that originated in the county of Lancashire, England. It describes a person who lived at a "south enclosure" or a farm situated to the south of a main settlement. By the year 1567, records confirm that the family was well-established in the Lancaster area, where they were deeply integrated into the local community. During this period, the family name began to spread as members moved between different parishes and towns within the region. The name reflects the way many English families were identified by their surroundings and geography during the Middle Ages. Over time, the spelling became standardized as the family grew and moved throughout England and eventually to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Suth and Worth
South refers to a cardinal direction and worth means an enclosure.
This name
SouthworthAn individual who resided at an enclosed homestead located in the southern area.
also spelled
Suthworth
Sowthworth
Suthwerth
Related arms
Bowerrecorded with Southworth, same area
Halfordrecorded with Southworth, same area
Otterrecorded with Southworth, same area
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
Ekwall, Eilert, The Place-Names of Lancashire, 1922
Lancashire Archives, Records of the Diocese of Chester: Bishop's Visitations, 1567
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