Map of England showing where the Sperry arms are recorded
The Sperry arms were recorded in Nottingham, c. 1620.
Nottinghamshire had coal under it and forest across it, and both were worth money. Families who profited bought manors, and a manor was the ordinary reason for a family to take 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Sperry 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 Nottingham.
Origin & History of the Sperry Family in England
The surname Sperry is rooted in the medieval history of England and is classified as a locative or descriptive name. It likely originated from the Old English word "spere," which refers to a spear, suggesting that early ancestors may have been skilled makers of weapons or perhaps served as guards. By the year 1620, historical records confirm the presence of the Sperry family in Nottingham. During this era, families in the region were often involved in the growing textile trade or local agriculture. As the family established itself in Nottingham, they became part of the social fabric of the East Midlands, contributing to the local community as the town began to expand during the early seventeenth century. This period was a time of significant migration and change, and the Sperry name became firmly settled within the local parish records of the area.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
spear
a long weapon for thrusting or throwing
This name
Sperrya maker or seller of spears or a person skilled with a spear
also spelled
Sopary
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
Nottinghamshire Archives, Nottingham St Mary Parish Registers, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
