Map of England showing where the Vickers arms are recorded
The Vickers arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry 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 Vickers 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 Somerset.
Origin & History of the Vickers Family in England
The surname Vickers is an occupational name that originated in medieval England. It was used to identify people who worked for a vicar, often serving as a clerk or a servant within the local parish church. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Somerset. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Vickers family were living and working in this region during a time of significant social change. As the name became hereditary, it spread across the English countryside, reflecting the vital role that church administration played in the daily lives of rural communities. The family name serves as a direct link to the professional and religious structures that organized life in Somerset hundreds of years ago.
Vickers Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Vicarius
Latin term meaning a substitute, deputy, or representative.
This name
VickersAn occupational surname for someone who served as a deputy or representative of a parish priest.
also spelled
Vickers
Vickery
Vickars
Related arms
Vickeryvariant spelling
Vickrisvariant 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
Somerset Archives, Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
bordureA difference between branches of one family
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
bordureA difference between branches of one family
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
