Map of England showing where the Standish arms are recorded
The Standish 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 Standish 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 Standish Family in England
The surname Standish is a locational name that originated in Lancashire, England, during the medieval period. It was derived from the Old English words "stan," meaning stone, and "edisc," meaning an enclosed pasture. This suggests that the earliest people to carry the name lived near a stony park or a rocky piece of grazing land. By the early 17th century, members of the family had moved beyond their original roots in the northwest of England. Historical records confirm that Standish family members were established in the city of York by 1620. During this era, families often migrated to major urban centers like York to pursue new opportunities in trade, law, or the church. This movement helped the name spread from its rural origins into the bustling social and economic life of northern English cities.
Standish Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
stan-edisc
Stony pasture or rocky enclosure.
This name
StandishDerived from a location in Lancashire meaning a stony park or pasture land.
also spelled
Standyshe
Standys
Staundish
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 Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1936
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
bordureA difference between branches of one family
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
bordureA difference between branches of one family
