Map of England showing where the Wolverhampton arms are recorded
The Wolverhampton arms were recorded in Buckingham, c. 1620.
Buckinghamshire was quiet farming country on the road out of London. Court officials and lawyers bought manors there within easy reach of the capital, and a manor was the usual reason to take 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 Wolverhampton 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 Buckingham.
Origin & History of the Wolverhampton Family in England
The family name Wolverhampton is a locative surname, meaning it was originally derived from the town of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands of England. During the medieval period, people often adopted the name of their home village or town as a way to identify themselves when they traveled or moved to new regions. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family had established a presence in Buckingham. This migration suggests that the family moved south from their ancestral namesake over the course of several generations. As they settled into new communities, the name served as a link to their geographic origins while they integrated into the local life and economy of Buckinghamshire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wulfrun
Derived from the Old English name Wulfrun meaning wolf secret or rune.
This name
WolverhamptonRefers to the settlement or farmstead belonging to the noblewoman Wulfrun.
also spelled
Wolverstone
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
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
