The King Family Crest framed artprint. Beautifully illustrated. Carefully researched. Uniquely personal.
Whether it’s a gift to celebrate a milestone birthday, a wedding or a housewarming—this piece is an instant heirloom.
Origin of the name King
The surname King derives from the Old English word cyning, originally meaning "king" or "ruler." In medieval England, the name rarely denoted actual royalty; instead, it developed primarily as an occupational nickname for an individual who conducted themselves in a regal manner, won a ceremonial title in annual May Day folk pageants, or played the role of a king in medieval mystery plays. It was also used to identify individuals who served in royal households or managed crown-held estates.
Following the Anglo-Norman era, King solidified as a widely distributed surname throughout England, with early concentrations in Wiltshire, Devon, Buckinghamshire, and Yorkshire. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Crown administrative grants and military service carried armorial families of the name into Ireland, particularly establishing prominent landed seats in Connacht and Munster. Through transatlantic migration in the 17th through 19th centuries, it became one of the most recognizable English surnames across North America, Australia, and the broader Anglophone world.
The symbolism of the King Coat of Arms
The Black Field (Sable): Represents constancy, quiet dignity, and steadfast loyalty.
The Gold Lion Rampant (Or): The central charge denotes fierce courage, noble authority, and knightly valor.
The Three Cross-Crosslets (Or): Symbolize devout faith and service.
Earliest Documented Evidence
The earliest prominent historical record connecting this specific coat of arms (Sable, a lion rampant between three cross-crosslets Or) to the King surname dates to the early 16th century with Bishop Robert King (c. 1482–1557), the last Abbot of Osney and first Bishop of Oxford under Henry VIII, belonging to the ancestral King line of Worminghall, Buckinghamshire, and Thame, Oxfordshire. The arms were officially logged into royal registers during the 16th- and 17th-century Heralds' Visitations of Buckinghamshire, Devon, Somerset, and Northamptonshire. In the late 16th century, cadet branches of this English armorial family—most notably Sir Robert King (d. 1657)—settled in Ireland, where the Office of the Ulster King of Arms formally confirmed the arms for the Anglo-Irish lines in County Roscommon (later created Earls of Kingston).
Significant Historical Figures
Bishop John King (c. 1559–1621): Bishop of London and chaplain to Queen Elizabeth I and King James I, who actively bore these arms and established one of the most prominent ecclesiastical and scholarly branches of the family in London and Oxfordshire.
Anne King (c. 1621–1698): A 17th-century Royalist poet directly born into this armorial Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire family (daughter of Bishop John King). Her surviving verse written during the English Civil War provides a rare female literary voice from within this landed armorial house.
Mary King (c. 1590–1644): An early 17th-century Scottish merchant burgess in Edinburgh who retained her maiden surname after her husband's passing, managed a successful textile trade, and held civic voting rights. Her prominence as a property owner led directly to Edinburgh's historic underground street, "Mary King's Close," being named in her honour.
Product details
- Ayous wood 0.75″ (1.9 cm) thick frame from renewable forests
- Paper thickness: 10.3 mil (0.26 mm)
- Paper weight: 189 g/m²
- Lightweight & acrylite front protector
- Hanging hardware included
No Warehouses. No Waste. Just for you, made to order
This product is printed especially for you when ordered, one at a time, by royal decree of Mother Nature to keep the realm beautiful. Family Crests Store guarantees your custom treasure meets all EU and USA safety standards.
About the artist
Each coat of arms in the Family Crests Store is an artwork by heraldic artist Éamonn Breathnach. All are carefully researched, drawing from the earliest available records across multiple heraldic archives. Noted for their elegance and attention to detail, these artworks make meaningful gifts for family occasions.
Don’t see your family name?
I’m always happy to add new crests and products to the collection, so please get in touch if you can’t find what you're looking for. ⚜️
