Map of England showing where the Balassone arms are recorded
The Balassone 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 Balassone 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 Balassone Family in England
The Balassone family name carries a history that links European roots to early colonial life in North America. The name itself is of Italian origin, likely derived from a descriptive term or a nickname that eventually became a hereditary surname. By the year 1620, members of the family were documented as residents of York, which was then a developing settlement in the Virginia Colony. These early individuals were part of the first waves of settlers who navigated the challenges of a new environment while maintaining the traditions and identity of their ancestral heritage. Their presence in York suggests that the family was involved in the foundational growth of the region, contributing to the local workforce and the social structure of the early American frontier. Over time, the family name evolved alongside the changing landscape, marking the transition of the Balassone lineage from its Mediterranean beginnings to its established place in early colonial history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Baldo
A Germanic element meaning bold, brave, or courageous.
This name
BalassoneA patronymic surname derived from a diminutive form of names containing the bold element.
also spelled
Bleson
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Coldham, Peter Wilson, The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1607–1660, 1987
Library of Virginia, York County Records, 1633–1694
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
