A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Baber family of England.
Reg. 2423 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ar. on a fesse gu. three hawks' heads erased of the first”
SomersetshireSomersetshire, c. 1620
Where the Baber Arms Were Recorded
Somersetshire
Map of England showing where the Baber arms are recorded
The Baber arms were recorded in Somersetshire, c. 1620.
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 Baber 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 Somersetshire.
Origin & History of the Baber Family in England
The surname Baber is an ancient English name that likely originated as a descriptive nickname or an occupational title. Many historians believe the name is derived from the Old English word for a weaver or someone who worked with cloth, suggesting that early ancestors were involved in the textile trade. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a strong presence in the county of Somersetshire. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Baber family were settled in this region, where they often served as landowners, local officials, or members of the gentry. Over time, the family name spread from these rural roots into various parts of England, reflecting the movement and growth of families during the transition into the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
babur
a Persian word meaning tiger or a nickname for a stutterer
This name
Baberan occupational surname for a barber or a nickname derived from a stuttering speech pattern
also spelled
Babbere
Babbar
Related arms
Hengott, or Henscottsimilar arms
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain, 1890
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Somerset Quarter Sessions Records, Q/SR
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
