A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bakewell family of England.
Reg. 5523 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
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)
“Or, three magpies ppr”
DerbyBakewell · Derby, c. 1620
Where the Bakewell Arms Were Recorded
Derby
Map of England showing where the Bakewell arms are recorded
The Bakewell arms were recorded in Derby, c. 1620.
Derbyshire had lead mines in its hills and good grazing in its valleys. Both made steady money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names into the heraldic records.
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 Bakewell 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 Derby.
Origin & History of the Bakewell Family in England
The surname Bakewell is a locative name, which means it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal trait. It is derived from the town of Bakewell in Derbyshire, England, where the name first appeared in written records during the medieval period. The name itself comes from the Old English words "bæce," meaning a stream or brook, and "wella," meaning a spring or well. By the time members of the family were documented in the city of Derby in 1620, the name had already been established in the region for several centuries. Families living in the area during this time were often associated with the local wool trade and agriculture, which were the primary drivers of the Derbyshire economy. As the family grew, individuals began to move from the rural town of Bakewell into the larger, more industrial hub of Derby to seek new opportunities in trade and craftsmanship.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bæc-wielle
Old English for stream or spring located near a ridge or back.
This name
BakewellRefers to a person who lived near a stream situated by a ridge or hill.
also spelled
Backwell
Backwelle
Related arms
Backwellvariant spelling
Bekewellvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Derbyshire Record Office. Derby Borough Records, D202
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
