Map of England showing where the Timson arms are recorded
The Timson arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
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 Timson 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 Timson Family in England
The surname Timson is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Tim. In medieval England, Tim was a common shortened version of the name Timothy. By the time the family was established in York in 1620, the name had become a fixed hereditary surname passed down through generations. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religion, and families like the Timsons were often involved in local commerce or skilled crafts. Because records from the early seventeenth century were often kept by parish churches, the presence of the Timson name in York suggests that these ancestors were likely active members of their local community who participated in the social and economic life of the city during the reign of King James I.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Timothy
Derived from Greek meaning honoring God.
This name
TimsonA patronymic surname meaning son of Timothy.
also spelled
Timpson
Tymson
Related arms
Timpsonvariant spelling
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
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Records: Parish Registers of York, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
