A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bangor family of Wales.
Reg. 5211 · Welsh, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Gu. a chev. betw. three leopards' heads or, a chief erm”
Walesc. 1451
Where the Bangor Arms Were Recorded
Denbigh
Map of Wales showing where the Bangor arms are recorded
The Bangor arms were recorded in Wales, c. 1451.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Denbigh.
Denbighshire was north Welsh country of hills and small estates. Land was held by a great many families rather than a few, and each holding brought its own claim to a coat of 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 Wales in this period.
Henry VI of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry VI of England
1422–1461
Reigning in Wales when the Bangor arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Wales.
Origin & History of the Bangor Family in Wales
The surname Bangor is deeply rooted in the history of North Wales, where it likely originated as a locative name taken from the ancient cathedral city of Bangor. By the middle of the fifteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the town of Denbigh. During this period, Denbigh served as a vital administrative and commercial hub, and families living there were often involved in the complex social and legal structures of the Welsh Marches. The presence of the Bangor family in 1451 suggests they were part of a growing class of landowners or tradespeople who were navigating the transition from traditional Welsh tribal customs to the more formal English legal systems of the time. Because surnames were still becoming standardized during the fifteenth century, the choice to adopt the name Bangor likely served as a way to signify a family’s geographic origin or their connection to the influential ecclesiastical center of the same name.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ban-chor
A Welsh term referring to a wattled enclosure or religious fence.
This name
BangorRefers to a settlement or monastery protected by a circular wattled boundary.
also spelled
Banger
Bangour
Related arms
Bangervariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Davies, R.R., The Age of Conquest: Wales 1063–1415, 1987
National Library of Wales, Denbigh Borough Records, 1451
Pierce, T. Jones, Medieval Welsh Society, 1972
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
