Map of England showing where the Underwood arms are recorded
The Underwood arms were recorded in London, c. 1620.
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 Underwood 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 Underwood Family in England
The surname Underwood is a locative name, which means it was originally used to describe someone who lived near or within a forest. In Old English, the word signified a person dwelling under the woods or at the edge of a woodland area. By the time the family was established in London during the early 1600s, the name had become a common way to identify individuals based on their geographic surroundings. These early London residents were part of a growing urban population during a time of significant social and economic change in England. As the city expanded, families like the Underwoods contributed to the development of trade and local community life, helping to solidify the name as a permanent part of the English landscape.
Underwood Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Under-wudu
Old English for below or beneath the woods or forest.
This name
UnderwoodA topographic name for someone who lived at the edge of or beneath a forest.
also spelled
Underwode
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
The National Archives, London Consistory Court Depositions, 1586-1611, DL/C/217
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
lionCourage, strength and royalty
