Map of England showing where the Worth arms are recorded
The Worth arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a coat 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Worth 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Worth Family in England
The surname Worth is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or personal characteristic. In Old English, the word "worth" referred to an enclosed homestead, a farmstead, or a piece of land protected by a fence or hedge. Families who took this name likely lived on or managed these distinct plots of land in the English countryside. By the year 1620, the Worth family was well-established in the county of Devon, where they were deeply integrated into the local community. During this period, families in Devon often held ties to the land through agriculture or local governance, and the name served as a way to identify their specific ancestral home. As the family grew, the name remained a marker of their deep roots in the southwestern landscape of England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
weorth
An Old English term referring to an enclosure, homestead, or settlement.
This name
WorthOriginally a topographic name for someone who lived near an enclosed farmstead or village.
also spelled
Wort
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
Hoskins, W.G., Devon, 1954
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, 1620
Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Parish Registers of Devon, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
