Map of England showing where the Wildbore arms are recorded
The Wildbore arms were recorded in Dorset, c. 1620.
Dorset was quiet farming and grazing country along the south coast. Its gentry were middling rather than grand, but they held their manors for a very long time, and long holding is what puts a name in the records.
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 Wildbore 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 Dorset.
Origin & History of the Wildbore Family in England
The surname Wildbore is an occupational name that likely emerged in medieval England to describe a person who hunted wild boars. During the Middle Ages, many families adopted surnames based on the specific tasks they performed or the animals they were skilled at tracking in the local forests. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Dorset. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Wildbore family were living in this region during a time of significant social and economic change. These early settlers were part of the rural landscape of southern England, where they likely worked in agriculture or trade. Over the following generations, the name persisted in local parish registers as the family became deeply rooted in the communities of the West Country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wild-bor
Untamed or feral male swine.
This name
WildboreAn occupational or descriptive name for a hunter or someone with a fierce, boar-like temperament.
also spelled
Wildboar
Wyldbore
Related arms
Wyldborevariant 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
Dorset History Centre, Dorset Parish Registers, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
