A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wyborn family of England.
Reg. 9401 · English, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Sa. a fess or, betw. three swans ar. membered gu., quartering SIDLEY, viz., Per pale az. and sa. a fess chequy ar. and gu. betw. three goats' heads erased ar”
KentHawkwell Place · Kent, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Wyborn arms are recorded
The Wyborn arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 Wyborn 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Wyborn Family in England
The family name Wyborn has deep roots in the county of Kent, where records confirm members of the family were well-established by the early seventeenth century. The name itself is thought to be of Old English origin, likely derived from a combination of words meaning "war" and "bear" or "warrior." During the 1600s, families with this surname were often associated with the rural landscape of southeastern England, where they worked as landowners or farmers. Life in Kent during this period was defined by the local parish system, and the Wyborn name frequently appears in early church registers that tracked baptisms, marriages, and burials. These documents show that the family was deeply integrated into the social and economic fabric of their local communities long before the modern era. By remaining in the same region for generations, the early Wyborns helped shape the history of the Kentish countryside through their steady presence and daily labor.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wigbeorn
Derived from Old English elements meaning war and warrior.
This name
WybornA locative or patronymic surname signifying a descendant of a fierce battle-ready warrior.
also spelled
Wyburn
Wyberne
Related arms
Wybernevariant spelling
Wyburnevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Everitt, Alan, Continuity and Colonization: The Evolution of Kentish Settlement, 1986
Kent Archives, Archdeaconry of Canterbury Marriage Licences, 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
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
