Map of England showing where the Stancombe arms are recorded
The Stancombe arms were recorded in Wilts, c. 1620.
Wiltshire was sheep country, and wool made money steadily for hundreds of years. Families who made it bought manors on the downs, and holding a manor was the usual reason to take 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 Stancombe 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 Wilts.
Origin & History of the Stancombe Family in England
The surname Stancombe is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the Old English words "stan," meaning stone, and "cumb," which refers to a narrow valley or hollow. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to adopt the name likely lived near a stony valley. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Stancombe family were well-established in the county of Wiltshire. During this period, families often took their surnames from the land they farmed or the villages where they resided. As these individuals moved through the rural landscape of the West Country, the name became a permanent marker of their geographic origins and their deep connection to the local terrain of southern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
stane and cumb
Old English for stone and a valley or hollow.
This name
StancombeRefers to a person who lived in a stony valley or hollow.
also spelled
Stancom
Stancum
Stancumbe
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Wiltshire Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lambGentleness, patience and faith
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lambGentleness, patience and faith
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
