Map of England showing where the Withers arms are recorded
The Withers arms were recorded in Norfolk, c. 1620.
Norfolk grew rich on wool and grain, and its wealth was spread among many middling families rather than a few great ones. Households of that kind bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Withers 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 Norfolk.
Origin & History of the Withers Family in England
The surname Withers is rooted in the Old English language and likely originated as a descriptive nickname for a person with a particular physical trait or personality. The name is derived from the word wither, which historically referred to someone who was lean, wiry, or perhaps possessed a resilient and tough nature. By the early 17th century, the family had established a clear presence in the county of Norfolk, England. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Withers family were active in this region during a time of significant social change. As residents of Norfolk, these early ancestors were part of a rural community that relied heavily on agriculture and local trade. This geographical foundation in East Anglia suggests that the family lived through the turbulent political and religious shifts of the Stuart era, eventually contributing to the migration patterns that would later carry the name across the Atlantic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wither
Derived from the Old English word for willow tree.
This name
WithersA topographical name for someone who lived near a willow tree or a willow grove.
also spelled
Wythers
Wethers
Witheres
Wyther
Related arms
Wethersvariant spelling
Wythervariant spelling
Wythersvariant spelling
Beauchamprecorded with Withers, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Norfolk Record Office, Parish Register Transcripts, 1620
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
