Map of England showing where the Whitby arms are recorded
The Whitby arms were recorded in England, c. 1615.
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 Whitby 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 Whitby Family in England
The surname Whitby is a locational name, which means it originated from people who lived in or came from the town of Whitby in North Yorkshire. The name itself comes from Old Norse, combining the personal name Hvíti with the word býr, which translates to a farmstead or village. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of York, as evidenced by records from 1615. During this period, families often moved from rural coastal towns toward larger urban centers like York to pursue new trades and participate in the growing merchant economy. As these individuals settled in the city, the name became a permanent fixture in local parish registers and legal documents, marking the transition of the family from their coastal origins into the professional life of a major northern English city.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hwīt + Býr
Old English for white and Old Norse for a farm or settlement.
This name
WhitbyRefers to a white farmstead or a settlement located near a white landmark.
also spelled
Whytby
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1615
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martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
