Map of England showing where the Wease arms are recorded
The Wease arms were recorded in Leicester, c. 1599.
Leicestershire was grazing country, and wool and cattle made steady money rather than spectacular fortunes. Steady money bought manors, and manors are what brought families into the registers.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Wease 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 Leicester.
Origin & History of the Wease Family in England
The surname Wease is rooted in the historical landscape of Leicestershire, England, where records confirm the family was established by the year 1599. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname, possibly derived from the Middle English word for the small, agile mammal known as a weasel. In medieval times, such names were often given to individuals who were noted for their quick movements or sharp, clever personalities. As the family settled into the Leicester area, they became part of the local community during a period of significant social and economic change in England. Over the following centuries, the family name persisted through parish registers and local legal documents, marking their long-standing presence in the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wes
Old English term for a meadow or a western location.
This name
WeaseA topographical surname referring to someone who lived near a western meadow.
also spelled
Wace
Wass
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Leicestershire Record Office, Bishop’s Transcripts of Leicestershire Parish Registers, 1599
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
