Map of England showing where the Vance arms are recorded
The Vance arms were recorded in Northampton, c. 1620.
Northamptonshire was grazing and hunting country in the middle of England, thick with manor houses. Its families were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Vance 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 Northampton.
Origin & History of the Vance Family in England
The family name Vance has deep roots that trace back to the region of Normandy in France. Originally, the name was a locative surname, meaning it was derived from the place name Vaux. When individuals from this area moved to England, the name evolved through various spellings before settling into the form we recognize today. By the year 1620, members of the Vance family were well-established in Northampton, England. During this period, families often moved to new regions to seek better opportunities in trade or agriculture. These early Vances were part of a growing class of citizens who helped shape the local economy and social structure of the town. Their presence in Northampton serves as a clear link to the broader migration patterns that defined the seventeenth century.
Vance Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
fenn
An Old English term referring to marshland or a fen.
This name
VanceA topographic name for someone who lived near a marsh or fen.
also spelled
Vance
Vancy
Vansy
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, 1997
Northamptonshire Archives, Northampton St Sepulchre Parish Registers, 1620
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
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gauntletA challenge given and the readiness to meet it
gauntletA challenge given and the readiness to meet it
