A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bague family of England.
Reg. 5637 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Sa. a saltire or, betw. four fleurs-de-lis ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bague Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bague arms are recorded
The Bague 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 Bague 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 Bague Family in England
The family name Bague carries a history deeply rooted in the social and economic landscape of seventeenth-century England. By 1620, records confirm that members of the family were established in the historic city of York. During this period, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration, suggesting that early ancestors were likely involved in the bustling merchant class or the skilled craft guilds that defined the city’s identity. The name itself is thought to be a variation of occupational or locational surnames common in medieval Europe, potentially linking the family to the movement of people across the English Channel. As these individuals settled in the shadow of York Minster, they became part of a growing urban population that navigated the complex religious and political shifts of the Stuart era. Their presence in such a significant administrative center indicates that the family was well-integrated into the local community, contributing to the development of the region during a time of immense national change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bague
Old French term for a ring or a decorative band.
This name
BagueAn occupational name for a maker of rings or a nickname for someone who wore distinctive jewelry.
also spelled
Bag
Bagge
Related arms
Baggevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
Collins, Francis, Register of the Freemen of the City of York, 1897
Palliser, David M., Tudor York, 1979
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
