Map of England showing where the Whiting arms are recorded
The Whiting arms were recorded in Northampton, c. 1619.
Northamptonshire was grazing and hunting country in the middle of England, thick with manor houses. Its families were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Whiting 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 Northampton.
Origin & History of the Whiting Family in England
The surname Whiting is of ancient English origin, likely emerging as a descriptive nickname during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "hwit," meaning white, and was often used to describe someone with fair hair or a pale complexion. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in Northampton, England. Records confirm that members of the Whiting family were living in this region by 1619, where they were integrated into the local community as tradespeople and landowners. During this period, the name was commonly recorded in parish registers as families began to settle into more permanent roles within the town. This early documentation highlights the family's transition from a descriptive identifier to a stable surname that persisted through generations of English history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hwita
An Old English personal name derived from the word for white.
This name
WhitingA patronymic surname meaning son of the white or fair one.
also spelled
Whyting
Related arms
Whytingvariant spelling
Comynsrecorded with Whiting, same area
Viellrecorded with Whiting, same area
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
Northamptonshire Archives, Parish Registers of All Saints, Northampton, 1619
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
