Why do public houses [[pubs]] names end with "...arms"?

Question

for example

--the cricketers arms

--the fishermans arms

--the sportmans arms

are you getting my drift i was just wondering why? and is there a good reason historical or whatever reason for it?

Answer 1

the arms referred to is the coat of arms (shield badge  -  as in heraldry)  and if often shown somewhere on the pub sign

Answer 2

As many were often on land owned by gentry/lords, they used their coat of arms for the sign of the pub.

Answer 3

It's about the coat of arms that they have associations with.

Answer 4

Look at the sign.

It is usually a heraldic "coat of arms".

I used to drink here many many years ago:

http://www.exmoutharms.co.uk and the sign is the coat of arms of the first Lord Exmouth.

Edit:

With due respect, the "alms house" explanation below is utter hog-wash.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almshouse

Answer 5

arms means "coat of arms" ie a herald or badge which the particular sport/person is known by - like a family surname if you like.

Answer 6

It comes from alms and usually has nothing to do with heraldry and coats of arms. Many pubs were mediaeval alms houses, where the poor were given charity. But many alms houses started to lose their function in the sixteenth century with the passing of the first Poor Laws. A few alms houses survive to this day, usually giving housing to pensioners from specific trades.

Spelling wasn't standardized until the mid eighteenth century and so "alms" was often spelt "arms". And as the purpose of alms houses declined people forgot the origins. They associated the names with heraldry, which after all is more attractive than charity, at least in the leisure industry.

Answer 7

Hello. Arms, Welcome, Right?

Those other answers that your getting about it meaning coat of arms are rubbish. I have told you the real meaning but if you dont choose to accept it then so be it.