A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Tomlinson family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 1978 · Britain, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti-ondé d'arg. et de sin.; à trois lévriers courants de l'un en l'autre, rangés l'un sur l'autre; au chef engr. d'arg.”
BritainHuddersfield Angl, c. 1700
Where the Tomlinson Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Tomlinson arms are recorded
The Tomlinson arms were recorded in Huddersfield Angl, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Tomlinson arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Tomlinson Family in Britain
The surname Tomlinson is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of someone named Tom or Thomas. This naming tradition became common in Britain during the Middle Ages as populations grew and people needed more specific ways to distinguish themselves from their neighbors. While the name is found across many parts of England, records show that families bearing this name were well-established in the county of Kent by the year 1700. During this period, families in Kent were often involved in the local agricultural economy or were part of the growing trade networks connected to London and the coastal ports. As the family settled into these communities, the name became a permanent fixture of the local landscape, reflecting the broader social changes that moved Britain away from single-name identification toward the use of stable family surnames.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Per pale vert and ar. three greyhounds courant in pale counterchanged, collared or”
YorkBirdford · York, c. 1620
Where the Tomlinson Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Tomlinson arms are recorded
The Tomlinson arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Britain when the Tomlinson 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 York.
Origin & History of the Tomlinson Family in England
The surname Tomlinson is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of someone named Tom or Thomas. During the Middle Ages, it was common for families in Northern England to adopt these descriptive names based on the first names of their fathers. By the early 17th century, the Tomlinson family had established a notable presence in the city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the family were active participants in the local community during this period. Because York was a major center for trade and administration in Northern England, families like the Tomlinsons often played important roles in the city’s economic and social life. The name reflects a time when surnames were still evolving from simple nicknames into permanent family identifiers that were passed down through generations.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Sa. a fess betw. three falcons rising or”
Irelandc. 1645
Where the Tomlinson Arms Were Recorded
Dublin
Map of Ireland showing where the Tomlinson arms are recorded
The Tomlinson arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Britain when the Tomlinson arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Tomlinson Family in Ireland
The Tomlinson family name has roots that stretch back to the mid-seventeenth century in Ireland, with documented evidence placing members of the family in Dublin by 1645. During this period, the name was primarily associated with English settlers who arrived in the city as part of the shifting political and social landscape of the time. These early residents often worked as merchants or tradespeople, helping to build the growing commercial infrastructure of the capital. As the family established itself in Dublin, they became integrated into the local urban community, moving away from their origins as newcomers to become permanent fixtures of the city’s administrative and economic life. Over the following decades, the name spread from the capital into other parts of the country, reflecting the broader patterns of movement and settlement that defined the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Thomas
Aramaic name meaning twin.
This name
TomlinsonSon of little Thomas, derived from the diminutive suffix -lin.
also spelled
Tomlyns
Tomlyson
Tomlins
Tomlynson
Thomlinson
Related arms
Thomlinsonsimilar arms
Quarmbyrecorded with Tomlinson, same area
Allenrecorded with Tomlinson, same area
Astellrecorded with Tomlinson, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Kent Archives, Quarter Sessions Records, 1680–1720
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
