Map of England showing where the Whittaker arms are recorded
The Whittaker arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Whittaker 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Whittaker Family in England
The surname Whittaker is of locative origin, meaning it was originally used to describe someone who lived near a specific geographical landmark. The name is derived from the Old English words "hwit," meaning white, and "acer," meaning an open field or acre. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely resided near a distinctive white field or a piece of land with light-colored soil. By the year 1620, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the county of Kent. During this period, the Whittaker family was part of the growing agricultural and merchant classes in southeastern England. As they settled in Kent, they became integrated into the local parish systems, which helped preserve their name in regional tax rolls and church registers for future generations.
Whittaker Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
hwit + æcer
Old English words for white and field or acre.
This name
WhittakerRefers to someone who lived near a white field or a piece of cultivated land.
also spelled
Whytaker
Related arms
Whitacrevariant spelling
Witacrevariant spelling
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
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1620
Kent History and Library Centre, Parish Registers of Kent, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
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masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
