A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Babe family of Ireland.
Reg. 5279 · Irish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Az. three crescents, two and one or”
LouthCastle Derver · Louth, c. 1645
Where the Babe Arms Were Recorded
Louth
Map of Ireland showing where the Babe arms are recorded
The Babe arms were recorded in Louth, c. 1645.
Louth is the smallest Irish county but sat on the road north from Dublin. Norman families took it early, held it under arms, and stayed, which is what put their shields on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Babe arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Louth.
Origin & History of the Babe Family in Ireland
The surname Babe has deep roots in the historical landscape of County Louth, where records confirm the family was well-established by the mid-seventeenth century. During the 1640s, Ireland was undergoing significant political upheaval, and families like the Babes were often tied to the local landholding structures of the Pale. The name itself is thought to have originated as a descriptive nickname or a shortened form of a personal name, reflecting the common naming customs of the medieval period. As the family settled in Louth, they became part of the local social fabric, navigating the complex shifts in land ownership and governance that defined the era. By 1645, the presence of the Babe name in official documents suggests that they were active participants in the regional economy and community life of eastern Ireland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bab
A hypocoristic or pet form of the name Barbara.
This name
BabeA diminutive or affectionate nickname derived from the name Barbara, meaning foreign woman.
also spelled
Baab
Related arms
Babb, or Babevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Civil Survey of the County of Louth, The Civil Survey, A.D. 1654–1656, 1931
National Archives of Ireland, Books of Survey and Distribution, County Louth, 1641–1670
Simington, Robert C., The Civil Survey, A.D. 1654–1656: County of Louth, 1931
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crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
