Map of England showing where the Arblaster arms are recorded
The Arblaster arms were recorded in Stafford, c. 1583.
Staffordshire was mixed country of moorland, farmland and early ironworking. Its landed families were spread widely rather than concentrated, and each holding brought its own claim to 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Arblaster 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 Stafford.
Origin & History of the Arblaster Family in England
The surname Arblaster is an occupational name that dates back to the medieval period in England. It originates from the Old French word arbalestier, which refers to a soldier who operated a crossbow. During the Middle Ages, these individuals were highly skilled specialists responsible for maintaining and firing these powerful weapons in battle. By the time the family was firmly established in Stafford in 1583, the name had transitioned from a military job title into a hereditary surname passed down through generations. The family held a notable position in the local community of Staffordshire, where they were often recorded as landowners and active participants in regional governance. Their presence in the area during the late sixteenth century reflects a long history of integration into the social and economic life of the English Midlands.
Arblaster Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
arcuballista
A Latin term for a crossbow or a mechanical siege engine.
This name
ArblasterAn occupational surname for a soldier or guard who operated a crossbow.
also spelled
Arbalester
Arbalistier
Related arms
Albastervariant spelling
Adamsrecorded with Arblaster, same area
Chambersrecorded with Arblaster, same area
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, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Staffordshire Record Office, Stafford Borough Records, 1583
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
crossbowReadiness for battle and skill at arms
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crossbowReadiness for battle and skill at arms
