This surname was from the county of ANTRIM. It is not known exactly what date a region in north-eastern Ulster was built into the county of Antrim, but in 1584 the Lord Deputy, who was then attempting to subdue Ulster and subject it to English government, divided the county into baronies. The chief town is the port-city of Belfast. Due to the growth of industry in the Lagan valley since the 19th century, there has been a heavy movement of population into the city and the surrounding area. Following the subjugation of the Irish chieftains in Ulster, Scottish and English settlers were induced to establish themselves in County Antrim as in the other counties of the province and many of these settlers were encouraged by the government to engage in the cultivation of flax, both for linen manufacture in the county and for export as yarn. Further encouragement was given in this industry at the end of the 17th and early 18th century when Huguenot refugees received grants to enable them to share their experience of textile manufacture and instruct those engaged in branches of their industry in Antrim, to improve their methods, so by the latter decades of the 18th century, County Antrim produced almost one half of the total Irish exports of brown linens. The origin of badges and emblems, are traced to the earliest times, although, Heraldry, in fact, cannot be traced later than the 12th century, or at furthest the 11th century. At first armorial bearings were probably like surnames and assumed by each warrior at his free will and pleasure, his object being to distinguish himself from others. It has long been a matter of doubt when bearing Coats of Arms first became hereditary. It is known that in the reign of Henry V (1413-1422), a proclamation was issued, prohibiting the use of heraldic ensigns to all who could not show an original and valid right, except those 'who had borne arms at Agincourt'. The College of Arms (founded in 1483) is the Royal corporation of heralds who record proved pedigrees and grant armorial bearings. The bulk of European surnames in countries such as England and France were formed in the 13th and 14th centuries. The process started earlier and continued in some places into the 19th century, but the norm is that in the 11th century people did not have surnames, whereas by the 15th century they did.