Map of England showing where the Sturgess arms are recorded
The Sturgess arms were recorded in Northampton, c. 1620.
Northamptonshire was grazing and hunting country in the middle of England, thick with manor houses. Its families were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Sturgess 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 Northampton.
Origin & History of the Sturgess Family in England
The surname Sturgess is an English locational name that likely originated from individuals living near a specific landmark or within a particular village. Etymologists believe the name derives from the Old English words for a brushwood thicket or a place where sturdy plants grew. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Sturgess family were well-established in Northampton, a town with deep roots in medieval trade and leather production. During this period, families in Northampton often held positions as skilled craftsmen or local merchants, contributing to the town's growth as a regional hub. As the family expanded, they became part of the social fabric of the East Midlands, living through a time of significant religious and political change in England. Their presence in Northampton suggests they were integrated into the local community, likely participating in the town's active markets and parish life long before the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Styr
Old Norse term for battle, conflict, or disturbance.
This name
SturgessA patronymic surname derived from the Old Norse personal name Styrgeirr, meaning battle spear.
also spelled
Sturges
Sturgess
Sturgys
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Northamptonshire Archives, Northampton St. Sepulchre Parish Registers, 1600–1650
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 2011
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bordureA difference between branches of one family
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bordureA difference between branches of one family
