A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barnack family of England.
Reg. 7427 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
duckResourcefulness on land and water
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. a fesse betw. three horse barnacles gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Barnack Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Barnack arms are recorded
The Barnack 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 Barnack 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 Barnack Family in England
The surname Barnack is deeply rooted in the geography of medieval England, originating as a locative name derived from the village of Barnack in Northamptonshire. During the early seventeenth century, the family established a notable presence in the historic city of York, where records confirm their residence by 1620. At this time, York served as a vital center for trade and administration in the north of England, suggesting that the family likely moved there to participate in the city’s bustling merchant class or professional guilds. As the name spread from its rural origins in the East Midlands to urban hubs like York, it became a marker of a family that moved alongside the shifting economic opportunities of the era. By settling in such a prominent location, the early members of the Barnack family integrated themselves into the social fabric of one of England’s most significant historical cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Beorn
Old English and Old Norse term meaning warrior or bear.
This name
BarnackA locational surname derived from a village in Northamptonshire meaning warrior's stream.
also spelled
Barnak
Barnake
Related arms
Barnakevariant 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
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
duckResourcefulness on land and water
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
duckResourcefulness on land and water
