A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Banaster family of England.
Reg. 6219 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. a cross patonce sa”
LancasterBank · Lancaster, c. 1158
Where the Banaster Arms Were Recorded
Lancaster
Map of England showing where the Banaster arms are recorded
The Banaster arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1158.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the 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.
Henry II of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry II of England
1154–1189
Reigning in England when the Banaster 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Banaster Family in England
The family name Banaster originated in England shortly after the Norman Conquest and is rooted in the Old French word banastre, which referred to a basket maker. By the year 1158, historical records confirm that members of the family were well established in the region of Lancaster. During this period, the family rose to prominence through their service to the powerful barons of the north. They held significant lands and acted as stewards or administrators for local lords. Because the name was tied to a specific trade, it evolved from a simple occupational description into a hereditary surname that identified the family as they expanded their influence across Lancashire and beyond.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
balneator
A Latin term referring to a bath attendant or keeper of baths.
This name
BanasterAn occupational surname for someone who managed or worked at a public bathhouse.
also spelled
Banastre
Banester
Banister
Related arms
Banestervariant spelling
Banistervariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Farrer, William and Brownbill, John, The Victoria History of the County of Lancaster, 1906
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Pipe Rolls, E 372/4
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
