A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ambridge family of England.
Reg. 3273 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Gu. two lions ramp. in pale ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Ambridge Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Ambridge arms are recorded
The Ambridge arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Ambridge arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
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 England.
Origin & History of the Ambridge Family in England
The surname Ambridge is a locative name, which means it was originally used to identify people by the place where they lived. Historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the city of York by 1620, a time when the region was a bustling center of trade and religious transition. The name likely refers to a bridge near a river or a specific crossing point that served as a local landmark for early ancestors. As families moved through the northern English countryside, they often adopted the names of these physical features to distinguish themselves from others in their community. By settling in York, the early Ambridge family became part of a long tradition of urban life in one of England’s most historic cities, where they contributed to the local economy and social fabric for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eanbeorht
Old English elements meaning lamb and bright or famous.
This name
AmbridgeDerived from a place name meaning the bridge associated with a person named Eanbeorht.
also spelled
Ambrige
Ambrege
Ambreidge
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Hey, David, The Oxford Guide to Family History, 2002
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
