A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ban family of England.
Reg. 8384 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Erm. a chief indented sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Ban Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Ban arms are recorded
The Ban 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 Ban 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 Ban Family in England
The family name Ban has deep roots that trace back to the bustling city of York in the early seventeenth century. Records confirm that members of the family were established residents there by 1620, living during a time when York served as a major center for trade and regional government in Northern England. The name itself is thought to have originated as a descriptive term or a shortened form of longer occupational titles, often used to identify people based on their roles within their local communities. As these early ancestors navigated the social shifts of the Stuart era, they became part of the fabric of York’s urban life. Over time, the family name moved beyond the city walls, reflecting the broader patterns of migration and growth that defined the English population during the following centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bana
Old English word meaning a slayer or murderer.
This name
BanA locational or descriptive surname likely referring to a person of fierce or aggressive character.
also spelled
Banne
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
