A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Backs family of England.
Reg. 0445 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Erm. on a bend gu. three eagles displ. or”
CambridgeTrumpington · Cambridge, c. 1620
Where the Backs Arms Were Recorded
Cambridge
Map of England showing where the Backs arms are recorded
The Backs arms were recorded in Cambridge, c. 1620.
Cambridgeshire was flat, rich farming country with the university at its centre. Fen drainage made new land and new fortunes, and families who gained by it bought manors and took arms to match.
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 Backs 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 Cambridge.
Origin & History of the Backs Family in England
The surname Backs is rooted in the linguistic traditions of Northern Europe, where it likely originated as a topographical descriptor for families living near a stream or a ridge. By the year 1620, members of the family were firmly established in Cambridge, England, a bustling center of scholarship and trade. During this period, the name appeared in local parish registers and municipal documents, reflecting a family that was integrated into the civic life of the university town. As these early ancestors navigated the social shifts of the seventeenth century, the name evolved alongside the changing English language. This transition from a simple descriptive term to a fixed hereditary surname highlights the family's long-standing presence in the historic landscape of East Anglia before many of its members eventually sought new opportunities across the Atlantic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bac
Old English term for a ridge or a physical back.
This name
BacksA topographical name for someone who lived near a ridge or hill.
also spelled
Baks
Backes
Bakes
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
Cambridgeshire Archives, Cambridge St Andrew the Great Parish Registers, 1600–1650
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain, 1890
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
