Close Family Tree

Everything hanging off here belongs to the main Close tree.

Basically, this is as far as we've got.

Origins

The Close's are of Normand Saxon, Viking (Norse) Scott, Irish decent. Primarily UK but of mostly blond haired blue-eyed children. The early Close, Closs and Clough names were of Saxon lineage; 1200-1400 Yorkshire, Britton and Scotland homeland.

Our ancestors were the horse trainers of Normand Knights and as such they trained the huge horses which carried the armour, knights and kings into battle! Many of our lineage were allowed to own property which was unheard of then.

The Close name, which signifies a piece of ground enclosed with hedge, wall or water, is of agricultural origin, though intimately associated with ecclesiastical usage in which it is applied specifically to denote the precinct of a cathedral or abbey.

Heraldry

English authorities on heraldry assign five coats of arms to different branches of the Close family.

First and most notable of these is that conferred upon Nicholas Close, native of Westmorland, by Henry VI in 1448-9, for his services as architect and overseer of construction of Kings College, Cambridge. Nicholas Close was doctor of divinity, one of the six original fellows of Kings College and chancellor of the university.

He was educated at King's College, Cambridge, being elected a fellow in 1443, and served as a commissioner to Scotland in 1449. He was Archdeacon of Colchester before being promoted to the bishopric of Carlisle in 1450á; transferred by papal provision in 1452 to the bishopric of Litchfield and Coventry, where he died in October, 1452.

Arms: argent, on a chevron sable three passion nails of the first on a chief sable three roses argent.

Note, the term 'Family Crest' is often used interchangeably with 'Coat of Arms'. Technically that is not correct, as a Coat of Arms was issued to an individual not a family. A Family 'Crest' is a symbol that sits upon the Helm within a Coat of Arms, and was used to distinguish between Arms of members of the same family.

Family Crests

We come across these from time to time. We're definitely NOT vouching for the authenticity or accuracy of these, however, If anybody has any others we'd love to see them.

Note, the term 'Family Crest' is often used interchangeably with 'Coat of Arms'. Technically that is not correct, as a Coat of Arms was issued to an individual not a family. A Family 'Crest' is a symbol that sits upon the Helm within a Coat of Arms, and was used to distinguish between Arms of members of the same family.

Azure, on a chevron Or between three falcons close argent, three roses gules.
Nicholas Close, 1450

So, here we are in the Close Ancestry Trees. In places it's no more than a thicket of brambles, which is unfortunate, but probably not unexpected.

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