A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Surtees family of England.
Reg. 3124 · English, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Erm. on a canton gu. an orle or. In the list of the knights of the co. York who served Edward I. in Scotland and elsewhere, given in the Harl. MSS. No. 1415, folio 253, and copied from Glover, the name and arms of SURTEYS (the old spelling of SURTEES) occur, but the orle is described as ar. instead of or; and in a list of the "knights and gentlemen of the countie of Yorke" that served on the same occasions, given in the Harl. MSS. No. 1487, folio 40, these arms are thus, with a slight variation, described "er. on a canton g. an escutcheon voided of the field ar. (but in others, apparently more correctly) er. on a canton g. an escutcheon A wth in an other g." For SURTEES of Hedley, quarterly, 1st and 4th, SURTEES, as first given; 2nd and 3rd, az. three closed helmets or, AUBONE, anciently written ALBANY. For SURTEES, of Redworth and Mainsforth, quarterly, 1st and 4th, SURTEES, as first given; 2nd and 3rd, sa. a fess betw. three lambs pass. ar., LAMBTON”
NorthumberlandNorthumberland, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Surtees arms are recorded
The Surtees arms were recorded in Northumberland, c. 1620.
Northumberland was border country facing Scotland, raided and fought over for three hundred years. Families held their land in return for defending it, and a defending household carried a shield.
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 Surtees 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 Northumberland.
Origin & History of the Surtees Family in England
The family name Surtees is a locative surname, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal trait. The name is derived from the Old French phrase "sur Teise," which translates to "on the Tees." This refers to the River Tees, which flows through the historic counties of Durham and North Yorkshire. By the early 17th century, members of the family had established a firm presence in the rugged landscape of Northumberland. During this period, the family lived in a region defined by its proximity to the Scottish border, where local families often played significant roles in regional administration and land management. The name reflects a deep connection to the northern English countryside, marking the family as long-standing inhabitants of the borderlands who were deeply integrated into the local community by 1620.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
super Tesa
Latin for above or over the river Tees.
This name
SurteesRefers to a person who lived on the opposite side of the River Tees.
also spelled
Surteys
Surteis
Surteise
Related arms
Marchrecorded with Surtees, same area
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
Surtees, Robert, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham, 1816
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
