Map of England showing where the Westerlund arms are recorded
The Westerlund arms were recorded in England, c. 1844.
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.
Victoria
Sovereign of the period
Victoria
1837–1901
Reigning in England when the Westerlund 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 Westerlund Family in England
The surname Westerlund is of Swedish origin and is composed of the words "väster," meaning west, and "lund," meaning a grove or small forest. This type of name was often adopted by people in Sweden to describe the landscape near their home or as a descriptive surname during a time when many families were moving away from traditional patronymic naming systems. By the mid-19th century, members of the Westerlund family began to migrate from Scandinavia to other parts of the world in search of new opportunities. The presence of the family in York by 1844 suggests that they were part of the early wave of European immigrants who settled in Northern England during the Industrial Revolution. These early settlers often worked in trades that supported the growing urban economy, helping to establish the family name in a new country while maintaining the linguistic heritage of their Swedish roots.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Vester-Lund
Old Norse words for west and a small grove or wood.
This name
WesterlundA topographic name denoting someone who lived in a western grove or forest.
also spelled
Westerne
Westernh
Westernn
Westron
Westren
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Hellquist, Elof, Svensk etymologisk ordbok, 1922
Utterström, Gustaf, Svenska släktnamn: deras ursprung och utveckling, 1947
The National Archives (UK), Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841 and 1851
York City Archives, Parish Registers and Settlement Records
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
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
