Map of England showing where the Spratt arms are recorded
The Spratt 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 Spratt 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 Spratt Family in England
The surname Spratt has deep roots in the English landscape, with early records confirming that members of the family were established in the historic city of York by the year 1620. The name itself is thought to have originated as a descriptive nickname, likely derived from the Middle English word "sprat," which referred to a small, slender fish. In medieval times, such names were often given to individuals who were notably slight in build or quick in their movements. By the early seventeenth century, the family had become part of the urban fabric of northern England, where they lived and worked during a period of significant social and economic change. These early ancestors in York would have experienced the bustling trade and religious shifts of the era, helping to anchor the family name in the region for generations to come.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
sprat
A small silvery marine fish of the herring family.
This name
SprattA nickname for a small, slender, or lively person.
also spelled
Sprattus
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
York Minster Archives, Parish Register of St. Michael-le-Belfrey, York, 1565–1653
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