Map of England showing where the Strowbridge arms are recorded
The Strowbridge arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought 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 Strowbridge 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Strowbridge Family in England
The surname Strowbridge is rooted in the landscape of Devon, England, where the family was well-established by the early seventeenth century. The name is locational in origin, likely derived from a specific bridge or crossing point near a stream or a patch of straw-colored land. During the 1600s, families in this region were often connected to the land through farming or local trade, and the name served as a way to identify individuals by their home parish. By 1620, the Strowbridge name appeared in local records, marking the family as part of the stable population that helped shape the rural communities of the West Country. As the family grew, members spread across the county, carrying the name into various local industries and parish life. This history reflects the common practice of the era where surnames became permanent identifiers based on the geography of a person's ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Strow-brycg
Old English words for straw or thatch and a bridge structure.
This name
StrowbridgeRefers to a person who lived near a bridge constructed of straw or thatch.
also spelled
Strowbridge
Strowbrydge
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
Hoskins, W.G., Devon, 1954
South West Heritage Trust, Parish Registers of Devon
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bridgeOne who joins what was divided
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
bridgeOne who joins what was divided
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
