A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Banke family of England.
Reg. 5204 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Sa. on a cross betw. four fleurs-de-lis ar. five pellets”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Banke Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Banke arms are recorded
The Banke 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 Banke 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 Banke Family in England
The surname Banke is a topographical name, which means it was originally given to people who lived near a prominent physical feature of the landscape. In Middle English, the word "bank" referred to the edge of a river, a hillside, or a steep slope. By the time members of the family were recorded living in York in 1620, the name had already been established for several generations as a way to identify individuals by their proximity to these natural landmarks. During the seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religion, and families like the Bankes were often integrated into the local economy as merchants or skilled tradespeople. Because the name is rooted in common geographical terms, it likely emerged independently in several different parts of Northern England, reflecting the way people in the medieval period used the land around them to define their identity and community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bank
A ridge, slope, or embankment of earth.
This name
BankeA topographic name for someone who lived near a ridge or riverbank.
also spelled
Bancke
Banck
Banks
Related arms
Banckevariant spelling
Banksvariant spelling
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., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
