A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ballantine family of England.
Reg. 3492 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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. on a cross betw. four mullets az. a sword ppr. pommelled and hilted or. See Dykes”
CumberlandCrookdale · Cumberland, c. 1620
Where the Ballantine Arms Were Recorded
Cumberland
Map of England showing where the Ballantine arms are recorded
The Ballantine arms were recorded in Cumberland, c. 1620.
Cumberland was rough border country in the north-west, facing Scotland across a disputed line. Its families held land in return for keeping it defended, and men who fought carried shields of their own.
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 Ballantine 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 Cumberland.
Origin & History of the Ballantine Family in England
The family name Ballantine has deep roots in the border regions between Scotland and England, with historical records confirming the presence of family members in Cumberland by 1620. The name is generally considered to be a locational surname, likely derived from the Gaelic words "baile," meaning a town or settlement, and "teine," meaning fire. This suggests that the earliest ancestors may have lived near a place where signal fires were lit or perhaps near a site associated with a beacon. Over the centuries, the spelling of the name evolved as families moved across the rugged landscape of the northern counties. By the early seventeenth century, these individuals were well-established as part of the local community in Cumberland, where they lived as farmers and tradespeople during a time of significant social change in the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Balan
A Celtic or Gaelic term meaning a place of worship or sanctuary.
This name
BallantineDerived from a location in Scotland, signifying someone who lived near a sacred site or church.
also spelled
Ballantyne
Ballentyne
Ballentine
Related arms
Ballentinevariant spelling
Musgraverecorded with Ballantine, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser. The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History. 1946
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
swordJustice, and military honour
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
swordJustice, and military honour
