Map of England showing where the York arms are recorded
The York arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1532.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms with it.
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.
Henry VIII of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry VIII of England
1509–1547
Reigning in England when the York 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 Cornwall.
Origin & History of the York Family in England
The surname York is a locative name, meaning it was originally adopted by individuals to identify their connection to a specific place. While the name is famously associated with the historic city in Northern England, families carrying the name also established roots in the far southwest of the country. By 1532, records confirm that members of the York family were living in Cornwall, a region known for its distinct cultural identity and tin mining industry. During this period, surnames were becoming increasingly fixed as families settled in specific parishes and began appearing in local tax rolls and property deeds. These early settlers in Cornwall likely moved to the area for work in the thriving agricultural or maritime sectors. Their presence in the region suggests that the family name spread across England through internal migration as people sought new opportunities in different counties.
York Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Eborakon
A Brythonic place name meaning yew tree estate or yew grove.
This name
YorkRefers to a person who originated from the city of York in Northern England.
also spelled
Yorcke
Yorck
Related arms
Zorkesame arms
Chacerecorded with York, same area
Stanhoperecorded with York, same area
Stubbsrecorded with York, 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, 1991
Hanks, Patrick and Hodges, Flavia, A Dictionary of Surnames, 1988
The National Archives, Early Chancery Proceedings, C 1
Cornwall Archives, Cornish Manorial Records, AD 1532
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
