A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barnacle family of England.
Reg. 0526 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
duckResourcefulness on land and water
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. three geese two and one sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Barnacle Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Barnacle arms are recorded
The Barnacle 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 Barnacle 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 Barnacle Family in England
The surname Barnacle is an English locational name that likely originated from a specific place or geographical feature. While the exact roots of the name are often debated, it is closely tied to the history of Northern England. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Barnacle family were well-established residents of York. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families living there were often involved in the local merchant guilds or the skilled crafts that supported the city. The name itself may have evolved from an old term describing someone who lived near a specific type of wetland or a small settlement, as surnames during this era were frequently adopted to describe a person’s home or their relationship to the surrounding landscape. As these individuals settled into the urban environment of York, they became part of the long history of families who helped build the city's identity during the early seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bernac
A locative term derived from a place name in Brittany France.
This name
BarnacleA topographical surname originally denoting someone who lived near a specific settlement or estate.
also spelled
Barnackle
Barnakle
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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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duckResourcefulness on land and water
duckResourcefulness on land and water
