Map of England showing where the Weeks arms are recorded
The Weeks arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
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 Weeks 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 Weeks Family in England
The surname Weeks is a locative name, meaning it was originally used to identify people based on where they lived. It is derived from the Old English word "wic," which referred to a dairy farm, a specialized trading settlement, or a village. During the Middle Ages, individuals who lived near or worked on such a farm often adopted this word as their surname to distinguish themselves from others in their community. By the time ancestors of the family were documented in York in 1620, the name had already been established in England for several centuries. These early family members likely moved through the social and economic landscape of Northern England as tradespeople or farmers, carrying a name that reflected the rural roots of their distant ancestors.
Weeks Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
wic
Old English term for a dwelling, village, or dairy farm.
This name
WeeksA topographic name for someone who lived near a farm or a specialized settlement.
also spelled
Weekes
Wekes
Weeke
Weke
Related arms
Weekesvariant spelling
Weelkesvariant spelling
Wekevariant spelling
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
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Account Rolls, 1620
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ringFidelity, and a promise kept
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
