A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Thakar family of England.
Reg. 5593 · English, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Gu. on a fess or, betw. three lozenges erm. a trefoil slipped az. betw. two eagles' heads erased of the field, beaked ar. and about their necks a leash of the last”
DerbyRepton Priory · Derby, c. 1540
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Map of England showing where the Thakar arms are recorded
The Thakar arms were recorded in Derby, c. 1540.
Derbyshire had lead mines in its hills and good grazing in its valleys. Both made steady money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names into the heraldic records.
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.
Henry VIII of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry VIII of England
1509–1547
Reigning in England when the Thakar 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 Derby.
Origin & History of the Thakar Family in England
The surname Thakar has deep roots in the English Midlands, with documented evidence placing the family in Derby as early as 1540. The name likely originated as an occupational descriptor, derived from the Middle English word for a thatcher, which refers to a person who covers roofs with straw or reeds. During the sixteenth century, the ability to construct durable, weather-resistant roofing was a vital trade in growing market towns like Derby. As the family established themselves in this region, they became part of the local working class that helped build and maintain the town’s infrastructure. Over time, the spelling evolved from descriptive trade titles into a fixed family name, marking the transition from a specific job description to a hereditary identity that has persisted for nearly five centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Thakkura
A Sanskrit term referring to a deity, lord, or feudal chief.
This name
ThakarAn occupational or status-based surname denoting a person of high rank, landlord, or village headman.
also spelled
Thacker
Thakkar
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
Derbyshire Record Office, Parish Registers for All Saints, Derby, 1540
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
