A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Balden family of England.
Reg. 2914 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Ar. a cross betw. four martlets vert”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Balden Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Balden arms are recorded
The Balden 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 Balden 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 Balden Family in England
The surname Balden has deep roots in northern England, with historical records confirming that members of the family were established in the city of York by 1620. The name is generally considered to be of locative or descriptive origin, likely evolving from Old English roots that identified a person by their residence or a specific physical trait. During the early seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religious activity, and families like the Baldens were often integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes that kept the city thriving. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of the region, contributing to the social and economic life of Yorkshire for generations. Because surnames were still becoming standardized during this period, the spelling of the name occasionally shifted in parish registers, yet the presence of the Baldens in York remains a clear marker of their long-standing connection to this historic northern landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Baldwin
Derived from the Germanic elements for bold and friend.
This name
BaldenA patronymic surname signifying a descendant of a bold or brave friend.
also spelled
Baldin
Baldon
Balldin
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Archive: Parish Registers of York St. Martin-le-Grand
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
