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The only thing that I’ve found so far is that the birds appear to be called ‘eagle displayed’. I’ve not made it to what the colors, shape of the shield, birds, number of birds, helmet, etc. mean yet, but will update this post as I discover.
If you happen to stumble across this post and know anything specific about the Holden coat of arms, please leave a comment. I’m very interested in knowing more about what each item means in greater detail.
Note: This post is over 2 years old. Although it's not a fresh post, feel free to comment or share your thoughts anyway. I read and enjoy every comment that is posted here.
© Copyright 2007-2012 Shane Holden
All Rights Reserved.
I don’t know anything to help you, but, man! that looks awesome and powerful!
I love these things. They are so cool looking.
Hello, I am a holden – from the UK, and from the looks of things, I wouldn’ hold much sway with regards to the coat of arms. The Name Holden is a Lancashire Yorkshire border name, which means someone who lives in a valley, so it would have been applied to a lot of people – those valley folks.
I did a search on the name Holden and found various web-sites with Coats of Arms – but I really doubt there was a genuine use of such a Coat of Arms for Any Knight that was a Holden.
Most of the web-sites that seem to be showing coats of arms for peoples surnames seem to have dubious linage and historic accuracy.
But If you wish to have a coat of Arms then why not go for it.
Personally I am happy in the knowledge that the Holdens go back a long way in English History and am aware of the place the name originated. The name would have applied to a lot of people who lived in the Valleys.
Anyhow, from one Holden to another – Hello!
Hey Graham, thank you very much for the comment, and it’s very nice to hear from a Holden across the pond!
Over here in the US, we’re not taught much at all, if anything, about Coat of Arms or Family Crests, at least in my experience, so I think it’s always interesting to read about our family’s history and where we originated from. I have wondered about the accuracy of the information that the surname websites provide, but really haven’t had much luck with any other sources, and have just about had to assume that they provide reliable knowledge.
I appreciate the information you’ve shared, especially coming from another Holden!
If you’ve ever got some time and wouldn’t mind sharing anything else about our surname in English History or anything interesting that I’m likely to not know over here, I’d love to hear it! Thank you again!
Hi I’m a Holden from England yet I am related from The Irish line, Which Had Several Variations of the Last Name Including Howling. The Irish Holdens Were Decendant from William of Normandys Battle Commander and The Later Generations Held the Title of Lords so a crest would Most Likely belong to them as the Holden’s of England are a completly different family. So the Comment that Graham Holden left is incorrect
Thank you very much for the additional information and clarification!
So who was this ‘commander’ you mentioned?
thx sooo much 4 helping me find my coat of arms
i really appreciate it
1
Hi i am a Holden and i am looking for my family crest. i have come across a few that look the same but different in their own way. I would love to learn more about our Surname. I dont know anything about Holden’s and would love to learn some. I am also looking for family that i dont know. Hey maybe some of us are family and not know it. anyways Hello to all Holdens out there.
I noticed that as well about the crests, they look similar but have differences. I’m always interested in learning more about our surname and history. So if you happen to find out anything, please drop back by and let me know!
Always nice running across other Holdens 
My family and myself are Holdens whom originate from Lancashire, England, I m currently tracing back my family tree and refreshing to see people nationwide and across the pond are doing similar research. Where i come from near Wigan, Lancashire Holden is quite a popular name and there are roads, streets even reservoirs that start Holden. My understanding is the origins of the name hale from Lancashire and have some relation to “Valley”. Early Irish settlers took the surname where it now belongs to Counties of Kilkenny & Wexford.
Woohoo, all the Holden’s are coming here!
)
I’m Manchester born and bred. One thing I can tell you about the crest is that red signifies a Warrior or Martyr
Thanks for stopping by Alan! It’s always nice to hear from another Holden
And thank you for the info on the red color on the crest! 
hi.
the commander mentioned earlier is probably Robert de Holden who was given land in Lancashire. England in around 1285. and i believe the birds were actually a pheonix. the red indeed signifies a warrior. hope this helps a little.
Hello – another Chris Holden here; I too am from Lancashire (St Helens although it later fell under Merseyside) and I found this website after asking my mum about a crest I remembered seeing when I was little: I was convinced it was “six or seven white birds” on a red shield, but maybe I just remembered it incorrectly! I’m glad to have found this site.
I’ve never bothered with family history and all that but I’ve been told that my family included the surnames Makin and O’Connor – so I guess the Irish link is pretty strong too?
Hi Shane,
Im a Holden, from Walsall, West Midlands, UK. Currently trying to find a good design of our Family Name’s Crest for a Tattoo!! The ones I’ve seen so far look very bold and powerful, love the Red colour in the Crest!
Any links to any website’s that have some pics, let me know
All the very best
Rob
Hi Rob – I appreciate you dropping by! I’m going to email you a link to an alternate design of our Family Crest that I’ve been able to find. I would totally be interested in seeing the tattoo when you’re done!
It’s great to hear from another Holden as well!
There is a BRANCH of the HOLDEN FAMILY that immigrated to South Australia,
and then one went on to New York. This is a brief history of that Branch. I WONDER IF ANY OF YOUR RELATIVES ARE LISTED HERE? My Grandmother was Jane Holden descended from William and Mary Holden who had a son, William Holden on 19 Dec 1756. This William also married a Mary at Warburton Sussex England. Their son, John, married Jane Walker in 1793 in Chichester at St Peter the Less Church. John was a master baker and had the honorary title of Sergeant at Mace to the City of Chichester. On 7 April 1808 WILLIAM H0LDEN was born. His siblings were: CHARLES, MARIA, JAMES & GEORGE. He married Sally (Sarah) Ellis in November 1831 in the Calvanist Chapel, Sally’s faith. On 3 Dec 1837, WILLIAM, SALLY and CHILDREN set sail on the “Trusty” for South Australia. They arrived outside of Adelaide, 17 May 1838 named and settled in a place he named Hope Valley, built New Church and a school. Out of the children of William and Sally, George, Fanny, Stephen Trusty, and William remained in Australia while JOHN HOLDEN made his way back to England and then on to New York on “Southampton” arriving 13 Sept 1862. On May 1866 John Married Mary-Jane Dermond in Paterson, New Jersey. John and Mary-Jane gave birth to William who died at age 2 and John Trusty (Sr). John Holden followed baby William a few months later in death. Mary-Jane never remarried and raised John Trusty on her own. John Trusty (Sr) married Cora Bell Tomkins and the 2 of them plus widowed mother Mary-Jane came to Sacramento to start a new life. He began the “North Sacramento Journal” in 1923 and a Children’s Symphony. John Trusty (Sr) & Cora Bell had 3 children, Jane (Biggs), Maud (Nelson), and John Trusty (Jr), 38 grandchildren and so many great-grand children and great-great grandchildren and even great-great-great grandchildren that I got mixed up trying to count them all.
Hi,
Another Holden here. Born is Sussex,UK, but been over in the USA since 1994. I’ve managed to trace back my family to Brightlingsea, Essex,late 1700s. They then moved to Shoreham, Sussex. Interesting reading about all the other ‘Holdens’
Hello All,
Another Holden here, Warren Holden , Started looking up the family tree, I know i Have british and Irish in me, I found this site after researching my Great x4 grandfather who was Ralph Holden and was from Mosley, Lancanshire, England . He came over here to the states on a ship at the age of six, and 10 years later fought in the civil war getting his ear shot off in the process. Trying to go back further, but is seems to be a slow process.
Warren, I have considerable info on Holden history if you want to contact me.
Just checking the design for the coat of arms to do a stained glass window and discovered all of the Holden comments. Exciting and interesting to read.Am descended from Richard who came to new world with his brother in 1634. I was born exactly 300 years later.
Hey there fellow Holdens! I’m from Latrobe PA and I’ve been searching for my family crest. I’ve seen lots of different versions but this one keeps popping up. I guess it’s anyone’s guess…but I say we adopt this crest as our own. I’m going to try and vector it into a full size image for print, etc…
Finally got the design set up for the stained glass window depicting the coat of arms, and have started fabrication. Lots of thoughts connected with this project, wondering about the people who fought under this crest.
Hi Al – I just sent you an email
Like I’ve said before, I appreciate the comments from you and the other Holden’s! It’s always nice to hear from others that share our great last name! 
I’ve been investigating the Irish Holden surname for years and have written a fairly good paper on its origin. It apparently evolved totally separate from the English Holdens as of off-shoot of the name “Huilin.”