Map of England showing where the Sturdivant arms are recorded
The Sturdivant arms were recorded in Norwell, c. 1614.
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 Sturdivant 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 Sturdivant Family in England
The surname Sturdivant is an English locational name that likely originated from a specific place or landscape feature in the northern regions of England. Historical records confirm that members of the family were established in York by 1614, where they were integrated into the local community during the early seventeenth century. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older topographic terms, possibly referring to a steep valley or a rocky stream bank. As the family grew, they moved beyond their roots in Yorkshire and eventually participated in the broader migration patterns that defined the era. By settling in various districts, early generations helped transition the name from a local identifier into a recognized family lineage that persisted through centuries of social and geographic change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sturdevant
Derived from the Old French name Estouteville meaning stout town.
This name
SturdivantA locational surname originating from the Norman place name Estouteville in Normandy.
also spelled
Sturdevant
Related arms
Sturtivantsame arms
Cartwrightrecorded with Sturdivant, same area
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
York Minster Archives, Parish Register of St. Michael le Belfrey, York, 1614
Reaney, Percy Hide, 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.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lionCourage, strength and royalty
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lionCourage, strength and royalty
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
