Map of England showing where the Wold arms are recorded
The Wold arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Wold 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 England.
Origin & History of the Wold Family in England
The surname Wold is deeply rooted in the linguistic traditions of Northern Europe, where it originally functioned as a topographic descriptor for people living near a forest or an area of high, open ground. The name derives from the Old English word wold, which refers to a piece of hilly or uncultivated land. By the time members of the family were documented in York in 1620, the name had already transitioned from a simple description of a person’s home into a fixed hereditary surname. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and the presence of the Wold family there suggests they were likely part of the growing merchant or artisan class. As the family established themselves in the city, the name became a permanent marker of their identity, linking their history to the rugged landscapes of the English countryside and the urban development of one of Britain’s oldest cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wald
Old English word for forest or woodland.
This name
WoldA topographic name for someone who lived near or worked in a forest.
also spelled
Wolden
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
