The associated coat of arms for the name BALTIMORE are recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884. Many factors contributed to the establishment of a surname system. For generations after the Norman Conquest of 1066 a very few dynasts and magnates passed on hereditary surnames, but most of the population, with a wide choice of first-names out of Celtic, Old English, Norman and Latin, avoided ambiguity without the need for a second name. As society became more stabilized, there was property to leave in wills, the towns and villages grew and the labels that had served to distinguish a handful of folk in a friendly village were not adequate for a teeming slum where perhaps most of the householders were engaged in the same monotonous trade, so not even their occupations could distinguish them, and some first names were gaining a tiresome popularity, especially Thomas after 1170. The hereditary principle in surnames gained currency first in the South, and the poorer folk were slower to apply it. By the 14th century however, most of the population had acquired a second name. A notable member of this name was George Calvert lst Baron BALTIMORE (l580-l532) English politician and colonialist, born in Kipling, Yorkshire, England. He entered Parliament in l609, was knighted in l6l7 and was Secretary of State l6l9-l625. In l625 he declared himself a catholic and, resigning office, was created Baron BALTIMORE in Irish peerage, and retired to his Irish Estate. As early as l62l he had despatched colonists to a small settlement at Ferryland in Newfoundland and in l629 he visited the place. The following spring he returned with his family and stayed until the autumn of l629. The severe winter induced him to sail southwards in search of a more genial country; but his attempt to settle in Virginia led to disputes and he returned home to obtain a fresh charter. He died before the grant was made final and the patent passed to his son Cecil, second Baron l605-l675. The territory was called Maryland in honour of Charles l. Queen. Cecil's younger brother Leonard became first Governor l634-l647. |
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