A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Tomes family of England.
Reg. 8777 · English, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. a garb sa. betw. four Cornish choughs ppr”
WarwickJohn Tomes · Warwick, c. 1620
Where the Tomes Arms Were Recorded
Warwick
Map of England showing where the Tomes arms are recorded
The Tomes arms were recorded in Warwick, c. 1620.
Warwickshire lay in the middle of England, and its landed families were spread evenly across it rather than gathered in one corner. A great many held a single manor each, and each of those holdings brought its own claim to 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 Tomes 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 Warwick.
Origin & History of the Tomes Family in England
The surname Tomes is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Tom or Thomas. This name became common in England during the Middle Ages as surnames began to replace simple first names for legal and tax purposes. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Tomes family were well-established residents of Warwick. This town was a significant center for trade and administration in the West Midlands, suggesting that early ancestors likely worked as skilled craftsmen or merchants within the local economy. Living in a town with a long history of royal influence, these early family members were part of a growing class of citizens who helped shape the social and economic life of the region during the early seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Thomas
Aramaic name meaning twin.
This name
TomesA patronymic surname derived from the given name meaning son of Thomas.
also spelled
Thomes
Toms
Thoms
Related arms
Thomsvariant spelling
Tomsvariant spelling
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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Warwickshire County Record Office, Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
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martletA younger son, who must win his own land
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
