Map of England showing where the Bahan arms are recorded
The Bahan 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 Bahan 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 Bahan Family in England
The family name Bahan carries a history rooted in the northern regions of England, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of York as early as 1620. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families like the Bahans were often integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes that kept the city functioning. The name likely evolved from regional dialects or occupational descriptions common in the seventeenth century, reflecting the linguistic shifts occurring in Yorkshire at the time. As residents of a major administrative and ecclesiastical hub, these early family members were likely witnesses to the significant social and political changes that defined England leading up to the Civil War. By establishing themselves in a city with such deep historical significance, the early Bahans were part of a stable community that navigated the challenges of seventeenth-century urban life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bana
Old English term for a slayer or a killer.
This name
BahanA locational or occupational surname likely referring to a person who served as a slayer.
also spelled
Bahan
Bahane
Bahoone
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
Palliser, D.M., Tudor York, 1979
York City Archives, House Books of the City of York, 1620
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
