Map of England showing where the Wadsworth arms are recorded
The Wadsworth 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 England when the Wadsworth 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 Wadsworth Family in England
The surname Wadsworth is of Old English origin and is classified as a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place. The name is composed of two parts: "Wade," which refers to a person’s name or a shallow river crossing, and "worth," which describes an enclosed homestead or settlement. This suggests that the earliest members of the family were likely farmers or landowners who lived near a ford or a protected piece of land in the northern regions of England. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that individuals bearing this name were active participants in the civic and social life of the area during a time of significant transition in English history. Over the centuries, the family name spread from these northern roots to various parts of the world, maintaining a connection to its humble beginnings as a description of a specific home in the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wade
Derived from the Old English word wadan meaning to go or ford.
This name
WadsworthAn enclosure or homestead belonging to a person named Wade.
also spelled
Wadesworth
Related arms
Caserecorded with Wadsworth, same area
Harringtonrecorded with Wadsworth, same area
Musgraverecorded with Wadsworth, same area
Readrecorded with Wadsworth, same area
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
