A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Aber family of Wales.
Reg. 7161 · Welsh, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Or, a fesse embattled az”
Walesc. 1647
Where the Aber Arms Were Recorded
Denbigh
Map of Wales showing where the Aber arms are recorded
The Aber arms were recorded in Wales, c. 1647.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Denbigh.
Denbighshire was north Welsh country of hills and small estates. Land was held by a great many families rather than a few, and each holding brought its own claim to a coat of arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Wales when the Aber arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Wales.
Origin & History of the Aber Family in Wales
The surname Aber is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Denbigh, Wales, where records confirm the presence of the family as early as 1647. The name itself is thought to be topographical in origin, likely derived from the Welsh word "aber," which refers to the mouth of a river or the confluence where two streams meet. Given the geography of North Wales, it is probable that the earliest bearers of this name lived near such a junction, using the location as a way to identify their home or farmstead. Over time, this descriptive label transitioned into a formal family name as the residents of Denbigh became more established within the local community. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family was already well-integrated into the social and economic life of the region, contributing to the local history of this ancient Welsh market town.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
aber
A confluence of two rivers or the mouth of a river.
This name
AberA topographical surname referring to someone who lived near a river mouth.
also spelled
Abbar
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Library of Wales, Denbighshire Quarter Sessions Records
Williams, G., The Welsh Church from Conquest to Reformation, 1962
Davies, J., A History of Wales, 1990
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
