Map of England showing where the Whaling arms are recorded
The Whaling 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 Whaling 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 Whaling Family in England
The surname Whaling likely originated as a descriptive name rooted in the geography and occupations of Northern England. By 1620, records confirm that members of the family were established in the historic city of York. During this period, York served as a major center for trade and craftsmanship, and families living there were often identified by their proximity to local landmarks or their specific roles in the community. The name itself may have evolved from an Old English term related to a person who lived near a specific meadow or a valley, known as a "wheal" or "whall." As the family grew, they integrated into the social and economic life of Yorkshire, contributing to the development of the region through their presence in the city’s parish records and local guilds. This early settlement in York suggests that the family was well-integrated into the urban life of the seventeenth century, living through a time of significant transition in English history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hwæl
Old English word for a whale or a large sea creature.
This name
WhalingA topographic name for someone living near a whale-shaped hill or a nickname for a large person.
also spelled
Walyng
Wallinge
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Archives: Parish Registers of York, 1620
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
cross symbolChristian faith and service
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
