A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Whitworth family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3469 · Britain, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la bande de sa., acc. d'une gerbe de gu., posée au canton sen. du chef. Cq. cour. C.: une gerbe de gu. S.: deux aigles d'arg., coll. de couronnes d'or.”
Britainc. 1720
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Map of Britain showing where the Whitworth arms are recorded
The Whitworth arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1720.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
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 Britain in this period.
George I of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George I of Great Britain
1714–1727
Reigning in Britain when the Whitworth arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Whitworth Family in Britain
The surname Whitworth is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place in England. It is derived from the Old English words "hwit," meaning white, and "worth," which refers to an enclosed homestead or a piece of land. While the name is most famously associated with the village of Whitworth in Lancashire, families bearing this name gradually spread across the British Isles over several centuries. By the early 18th century, members of the Whitworth family were well-established in Kent, where they became integrated into the local social and economic life of the region. During this era, families often moved to follow new trade opportunities or to manage land, and the presence of the Whitworths in Kent by 1720 reflects this broader pattern of internal migration. As the family settled into these southern communities, they contributed to the local history of the county through their roles in agriculture, commerce, and parish administration.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. a bend sa. in the sinister chief point a garb gu”
StaffordAdbaston · Stafford, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Whitworth arms are recorded
The Whitworth arms were recorded in Stafford, c. 1620.
Staffordshire was mixed country of moorland, farmland and early ironworking. Its landed families were spread widely rather than concentrated, and each holding brought its own claim to 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 Britain when the Whitworth 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 Stafford.
Origin & History of the Whitworth Family in England
The name Whitworth is a locational surname that originated in the northern regions of England, specifically derived from places named Whitworth in Lancashire and Durham. The name itself combines the Old English words "hwit," meaning white, and "worth," which refers to an enclosed homestead or a piece of land. By the early 17th century, members of the family had established a notable presence in the town of Stafford. During this period, families often moved from rural areas toward growing market towns to pursue new trades and social opportunities. The presence of the Whitworth family in Stafford by 1620 suggests they were part of the rising middle class that helped shape the local economy and civic life of the English Midlands during the Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hwita and worth
Old English for white or fair and an enclosure or homestead.
This name
WhitworthRefers to a white or fair person's enclosed settlement or farmstead.
also spelled
Whitworthe
Whitworthh
Whitwarth
Whytworth
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bardsley, Charles Wareing. A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames. 1901
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1936
The National Archives, Kew. Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers. 1720
Kent History and Library Centre. Parish Registers of Kent. 1720
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
