A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bardsey family of England.
Reg. 4869 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
maunchThe lady's sleeve, worn as a favour
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. two bars gu. on a canton a maunch of the first”
LancasterBardsey-in-Furness · Lancaster, c. 1620
Where the Bardsey Arms Were Recorded
Lancaster
Map of England showing where the Bardsey arms are recorded
The Bardsey arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Bardsey 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 Bardsey Family in England
The surname Bardsey is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the village of Bardsea, located on the Furness Peninsula in the historic county of Lancashire. In the early seventeenth century, the family was well-established in this region, with records confirming their presence in Lancaster by 1620. During this period, families often took their surnames from the lands they inhabited or managed. Because the name is tied to this coastal area, it is likely that the earliest members of the family were farmers or landowners who identified themselves by the name of their home village. Over generations, as family members moved toward larger towns like Lancaster for trade or legal matters, they carried the name with them, cementing it as a distinct family identifier.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bearda
An Old English personal name derived from the word for beard.
This name
BardseyRefers to the clearing or enclosure belonging to a man named Bearda.
also spelled
Bardesey
Bardesie
Related arms
Bardesey, Bardesley, or Bardseyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Place-Names of Lancashire. 1922
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
maunchThe lady's sleeve, worn as a favour
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
maunchThe lady's sleeve, worn as a favour
