Map of England showing where the Whitehouse arms are recorded
The Whitehouse 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 Whitehouse 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 Whitehouse Family in England
The surname Whitehouse is a topographic name that originated in England to describe someone who lived in a house constructed of light-colored stone or whitewashed timber. During the medieval period, people often received surnames based on the physical appearance of their homes or their specific location within a village. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Whitehouse family were established in the historic city of York. At that time, York was a major center for trade and religion, and families living there were often involved in the city’s thriving craft guilds or local commerce. As the family grew, they moved into various trades, helping to cement the name within the social fabric of Northern England. This early presence in York suggests that the family was well-integrated into the urban life of the seventeenth century, living among the stone structures that likely inspired their name centuries before.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hwit hus
Old English for white and house or dwelling.
This name
WhitehouseA topographic name for someone who lived in a prominent house painted white or constructed of stone.
also spelled
Whithouse
Whytehouse
Whytthouse
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, University of York. Archbishop of York Diocesan Records
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