Map of England showing where the Spear arms are recorded
The Spear 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 Spear 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 Spear Family in England
The surname Spear is rooted in the occupational and descriptive naming traditions of medieval England. It likely originated as a nickname for a person who was tall and thin like a spear, or perhaps for a skilled maker or user of spears. By the early 17th century, the name was well-established in the northern regions of England. Records confirm that members of the Spear family were living in the city of York by 1620. During this era, families often settled in specific market towns where they worked as craftsmen or tradespeople. The presence of the family in York suggests they were part of the local urban community during a time of significant social and economic change in England. As the family grew, their name became a permanent fixture in the historical records of the region, marking their transition from individuals identified by a nickname to a recognized family line within the city.
Spear Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Spearu
Old English word for a long, pointed weapon used for thrusting.
This name
SpearAn occupational name for a soldier, hunter, or someone who carried a spear.
also spelled
Speer
Speere
Related arms
Speervariant spelling
Spiersvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I
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