Medieval source material on the internet: Heralds' Visitations and the College of Arms
Heralds' Visitations and the College of Arms
For a brief guide to heralds' visitations and the College of Arms,
click here
For some medieval records in Ancestry's UK and Ireland Collection,
click here
- General:
- The Court of Chivalry 1634-1640 (University of Birmingham/College of Arms)
Searchable database of the 738 surviving cases for this period, including an abstract of each with summaries and transcripts of the documents, from records at the College of Arms and Arundel Castle. The site also includes extensive background material on the history and procedure of the court.
-
Armigerous Ancestors Surname Index
(Achievements -
the research company associated with the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies)
Searchable version of the surname index from C.R. Humphery-Smith,
Armigerous ancestors: a catalogue of sources for the study of the visitations of the heralds in the
16th and 17th centuries with referenced lists of names (Canterbury, 1997).
The search results also give the county but not usually the date of the visitation;
Achievements can provide further information for a fee
- R. Sims, An Index to the Pedigrees and Arms contained in the Heralds' Visitations, and other Genealogical Manuscripts in the British Museum. (1849) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
- The Edward IV Roll
(Free Library of Philadelphia)
Images and discussion of a lavishly illustrated manuscript from the 1460s
(Free Library of Philadelphia, MS Lewis E201), which includes
a mythical descent of Edward IV from Adam and Eve - this predates the incorporation
of the College of Arms, but shares some of the characteristics of the inventive heraldic
pedigrees that came into fashion under the Tudors and Stuarts
- Nicholas Harris Nicolas, The controversy between Sir Richard Scrope and Sir Robert Grosvenor, In the Court of Chivalry, A.D. 1385-1390. Volume 2. (1832) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
The volume is subtitled, "Containing a history of the family of Scrope, and biographical notices of the deponents".
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 .]
-
The Scrope-Grosvenor Trial (1385-1390)
(Harvard University)
Modern English versions of selected depositions in a trial in the
Court of Chivalry, from Sir N. Harris Nichols, ed.,
The Controversy Between Sir Richard Scrope and
Sir Robert Grosvenor ... (1832)
- Joseph Foster; ed. W. Harry Rylands, Grantees of Arms named in docquets and patents to the end of the seventeenth century ... [Volume 1.] (1915) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Harleian Society, volume 66.
- Joseph Foster; ed. W. Harry Rylands, Grantees of Arms named in docquets and patents between the years 1687 and 1898 ... [Volume 2, part 1. A-J.] (1916) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Harleian Society, volume 67.
- Joseph Foster; ed. W. Harry Rylands, Grantees of Arms named in docquets and patents between the years 1687 and 1898 ... [Volume 2, part 2. K-Z.] (1917) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Harleian Society, volume 68.
- Bedfordshire:
- Berkshire:
- W. Harry Rylands, ed., The Four Visitations of Berkshire made and taken ...1532; ... 1566; ... 1623; and ... 1665-66. Volume 1. (1907) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Harleian Society, volume 56.
[Other copies at: Google Books [Hints and tips]; UK Genealogy Archives.]
- W. Harry Rylands, ed., The Four Visitations of Berkshire,1532, 1566, 1623, and 1665-6. Volume 2. (1908) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Harleian Society, volume 57. Additional pedigrees and notes.
[Other copies at: Google Books [Hints and tips]; UK Genealogy Archives.]
- Walter C. Metcalfe, ed., The Visitation of Berkshire in 1566, ... (1885) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
- Walter C. Metcalfe, ed., The Visitation of Berkshire 1664-6. (1882) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
- Buckinghamshire:
- Cambridgeshire:
- Cheshire:
- William Langton, ed., The Visitation of Lancashire and a part of Cheshire, ... A.D. 1533, ... Part 1. (1876) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Chetham Society, old series, volume 98.
- William Langton, ed., The visitation of Lancashire and a part of Cheshire, ... A.D. 1533, ... Part 2. (1882) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Chetham Society, old series, volume 110.
[Other copies at: Google Books [Hints and tips].]
- John Paul Rylands, ed., The Visitation of Cheshire ... 1580 ... The Visitation of Cheshire made ... 1566 ... The Visitation of a Part of Cheshire ... 1533 ... a fragment of The Visitation of the City of Chester ... 1591 (1882) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Harleian Society, volume 18.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; South Cheshire Family History Society; UK Genealogy Archives.]
- Sir George J. Armytage and J. Paul Rylands, eds., Pedigrees made at the Visitation of Cheshire, 1613, ... and some other contemporary pedigrees. (1909) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society, volume 58/Harleian Society, volume 59.
[Other copies at: South Cheshire Family History Society.]
- Cornwall:
- J. L. Vivian, The visitations of Cornwall, comprising the heralds' visitations of 1530, 1573, and 1620. With additions ... (1887) (Nigel Batty-Smith, UK Genealogy Archives)
[Other copies at: Google Books [Hints and tips]; Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University.]
- J. L. Vivian and Henry L. Drake, eds, The Visitation of the County of Cornwall, in the year 1620. (1874) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Harleian Society, volume 9.
[Other copies at: Google Books [Hints and tips].]
- Cumberland:
- Derbyshire:
- Devon:
- J. L. Vivian, The Visitations of the County of Devon, ... 1531, 1564. and 1620. With additions. ([1895]) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
N.B. Todd Farmerie (in soc.genealogy.medieval postings) points out that some of the material in Vivian's edition is inaccurate - particularly the earlier parts of the pedigrees and those immediately subsequent to the visitation records.
[Other copies at: Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University: 1 ; 2 .]
- Frederic Thomas Colby, ed., The Visitation of the County of Devon In the Year 1564, with Additions from The Earlier Visitation of 1531. (1881) (Nigel Batty-Smith, UK Genealogy Archives)
- Frederic Thomas Colby, ed., The Visitation of the County of Devon In the Year 1620. (1872) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Harleian Society, volume 6.
[Other copies at: Google Books [Hints and tips].]
- Dorset:
- Durham:
- Essex:
- Gloucestershire:
- Hampshire:
- Herefordshire:
- Hertfordshire:
- Huntingdonshire:
- Kent:
- Joseph Jackson Howard, ed., The Visitation of the County of Kent, Taken in the Year 1619 ... Part 1. (1863) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Reprinted from Archaeologia Cantiana, volume 4.
[Other copies at: Google Books [Hints and tips].]
- Robert Hovenden, ed., The Visitation of Kent, Taken in the Years 1619-1621. ... (1898) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Harleian Society, volume 42.
[Other copies at: UK Genealogy Archives.]
- Joseph Jackson Howard and Robert Hovenden, eds, Some Pedigrees from The Visitation of Kent, 1663-68. (1887) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
- Sir George J. Armytage, ed., A Visitation of the County of Kent, [1663-1668] (1906) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Harleian Society, volume 54.
[Other copies at: UK Genealogy Archives.]
- Lancashire:
- William Langton, ed., The Visitation of Lancashire and a part of Cheshire, ... A.D. 1533, ... Part 1. (1876) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Chetham Society, old series, volume 98.
- William Langton, ed., The visitation of Lancashire and a part of Cheshire, ... A.D. 1533, ... Part 2. (1882) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Chetham Society, old series, volume 110.
[Other copies at: Google Books [Hints and tips].]
- Rev. F. R. Raines, ed., The Visitation of the County Palatine of Lancaster, made in the year 1567, ... (1870) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Chetham Society, old series, volume 81.
- F. R. Raines, ed., The visitation of the county palatine of Lancaster, made in the year 1613, ... (1871) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Chetham Society, old series, volume 82.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 .]
- F. R. Raines, ed., The Visitation of the County Palatine of Lancaster, made in the year 1664-5, ... Part 1. (1872) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Chetham Society, old series, volume 84. Covers surnames Adlington-Entwisle.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 .]
- F. R. Raines, ed., The Visitation of the County Palatine of Lancaster, made in the year 1664-5, ... Part 2. (1872) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Chetham Society, old series, volume 85. Covers surnames Eyves-Oldham.
- F. R. Raines, ed., The Visitation of the County Palatine of Lancaster, made in the year 1664-5, ... Part 3. (1873) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Chetham Society, old series, volume 88. Covers surnames Osbadleston-Worthington and includes an index to all three parts.
- Leicestershire:
- Lincolnshire:
- Walter C. Metcalfe, ed., The Visitation of the County of Lincoln In 1562-4. (1881) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
- Walter C. Metcalfe, ed., The Visitation of the County of Lincoln, 1592. (1882) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Bound with Metcalfe's edition of the 1562-4 visitation. The 1592 visitation starts at p. 319.
- Everard Green, ed., The visitation of the county of Lincoln made ... 1666. (Bob Boynton, University of Iowa)
Lincoln Record Society, vol. 8 (1917). PDF file (3 MB).
- A. R. Maddison, ed., Lincolnshire Pedigrees. Volume 1. (1902) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Harleian Society Publications, volume 50, from the manuscripts of Arthur Staunton Larken.
- A. R. Maddison, ed., Lincolnshire Pedigrees. Volume 2. (1903) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Harleian Society Publications, volume 51, from the manuscripts of Arthur Staunton Larken.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 .]
- A. R. Maddison, ed., Lincolnshire Pedigrees. Volume 3. (1904) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Harleian Society Publications, volume 52, from the manuscripts of Arthur Staunton Larken.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 .]
- A. R. Maddison, ed., Lincolnshire Pedigrees. Volume 4. (1906) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Harleian Society Publications, volume 55, from the manuscripts of Arthur Staunton Larken.
[Other copies at: Google Books [Hints and tips]; Internet Archive - Text Archive.]
- London:
- Joseph Jackson Howard and George John Armytage, eds, The visitation of London In the Year 1568 ... since augmented both with descents and arms. (1869) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Harleian Society, volume 1.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; 4 ; 5 ; UK Genealogy Archives.]
- Joseph Jackson Howard and Joseph Lemuel Chester, eds, The visitation of London, anno domini 1633, 1634, and 1635, ,... (1880) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Harleian Society, volume 15. Volume 1 of 2, covering surnames A-H.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; 4 ; 5 ; UK Genealogy Archives.]
- Joseph Jackson Howard and Joseph Lemuel Chester, eds, The visitation of London, anno domini 1633, 1634, and 1635, made by Sr. Henry St George, kt., Clarencieux king of armes (1883) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Harleian Society, volume 17. Volume 2 of 2, covering surnames I-W.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 ; 3 .]
- Middlesex:
- Norfolk:
- G. H. Dashwood and others, eds, The Visitation of Norfolk in the year 1563 ... Volume 1. (1878) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
[Other copies at: Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University; Internet Archive - Text Archive.]
- Brig.-General Bulwer, ed., The Visitation of Norfolk in the year 1563 ... Volume 2. (1895) (Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University)
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive.]
- Walter Rye, ed., The Visitacion of Norffolk, made ... 1563, enlarged with another Visitacion made by Clarenceux Cooke ... and also the Vissitation made ... 1613. (1891) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Harleian Society, volume 32.
[Other copies at: UK Genealogy Archives.]
- Northamptonshire:
- Northern Counties:
- [C. H. Hunter Blair, ed.] Visitations of the north. Part 3. A visitation of the north of England circa 1480-1500. (1930) (Bob Boynton, University of Iowa)
Surtees Society, volume 144.
- [F. W. Dendy, ed.] Visitations of the north, or some early heraldic visitations of, and collections of pedigrees relating to, the north of England. Part 1. (1912) (Bob Boynton, University of Iowa)
Surtees Society, volume 122. Visitations of 1552 and 1558, and pedigrees collected in 1560 and 1561.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive.]
- Visitations of the north, or some early heraldic visitations of, and collections of pedigrees relating to, the north of England. Part 2. (Bob Boynton, University of Iowa)
Surtees Society, volume 133 (1921). Visitation of Yorkshire 1563-4, and pedigrees of Yorkshire and adjacent counties, 1567.
- C. H. Hunter Blair, ed., Visitations of the north. Part 4. Visitations of Yorkshire and Northumberland in A.D. 1575, and a book of arms from Ashmole ms. no. 834. (1932) (Bob Boynton, University of Iowa)
Surtees Society, volume 146.
- Northumberland (see also Northern Counties):
- Nottinghamshire:
- Oxfordshire:
- Rutland:
- Shropshire:
- George Grazebrook and John Paul Rylands The visitation of Shropshire, taken in the year 1623 ... with additions from the pedigrees of Shropshire gentry taken by the heralds in the years 1569 and 1584, and other sources (1889) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Harleian Society, volume 28. Part 1, covering surnames A-J.
[Other copies at: Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University; Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; UK Genealogy Archives.]
- George Grazebrook and John Paul Rylands The visitation of Shropshire, taken in the year 1623 ... with additions from the pedigrees of Shropshire gentry taken by the heralds in the years 1569 and 1584, and other sources (1889) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Harleian Society, volume 29. Part 2, covering surnames K-Y.
[Other copies at: Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University; Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 .]
- Somerset:
- Staffordshire:
- Suffolk:
- Joseph Jackson Howard, ed., The visitation of Suffolke, made ... 1561, with additions from family documents, original wills, Jermyn, Davy and other MSS., &c. Volume 1. (1866) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
- Joseph Jackson Howard, ed., The visitation of Suffolke, made ... 1561, with additions from family documents, original wills, Jermyn, Davy and other MSS., &c. Volume 2. (1868 etc) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 .]
- Walter C. Metcalfe, ed. The Visitations of Suffolk, made ... 1561, ... 1577, and ... 1612, with notes and an appendix of additional Suffolk pedigrees (1882) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 .]
- Surrey:
- Sussex:
- Wales:
- Warwickshire:
- Westmorland:
- Wiltshire:
- Worcestershire:
- Yorkshire (see also Northern Counties):
- Charles Best Norcliffe, ed., The Visitation of Yorkshire in the years 1563 and 1564, ... (1881) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Harleian Society, volume 16.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 ; University of Iowa.]
- Visitations of the north, or some early heraldic visitations of, and collections of pedigrees relating to, the north of England. Part 2. (Bob Boynton, University of Iowa)
Surtees Society, volume 133 (1921). Visitation of Yorkshire 1563-4, and pedigrees of Yorkshire and adjacent counties, 1567.
- Robert Davies, ed., The visitation of the county of Yorke, begun in A. D. MDCLXV, and finished A. D. MDCLXVI by William Dugdale. (1859) (Making of America, University of Michigan)
Surtees Society, volume 36. Choice of images, PDF files or text, with a search facility (but beware of sometimes inaccurate text conversion).
[Other copies at: UK Genealogy Archives.]
- J. W. Clay, ed., Dugdale's Visitation of Yorkshire, with additions. [1665-1666] (1894) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
- Joseph Foster, Pedigrees of the county families of Yorkshire. Volume 2 - West Riding. (1874) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
- Joseph Foster, Pedigrees of the county families of Yorkshire. Volume 3 - North and East Riding. (1874) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)