A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barnehouse family of England.
Reg. 4631 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. two wings displ. conjoined in lure ar”
DevonDevon, c. 1620
Where the Barnehouse Arms Were Recorded
Devon
Map of England showing where the Barnehouse arms are recorded
The Barnehouse arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Barnehouse 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Barnehouse Family in England
The surname Barnehouse is deeply rooted in the landscape of Devon, England, where members of the family were firmly established by the early seventeenth century. The name itself likely originated as a topographical descriptor, referring to individuals who lived near or worked within a "barn house," which was a common structure on rural farms during the medieval period. By 1620, the family was integrated into the local community, likely participating in the agricultural life that defined the region at the time. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Devon, living through a period of significant transition in English history. Their presence in local parish records suggests they were settled, land-holding, or working families who contributed to the development of their local villages and towns.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bern-hus
Old English words for a barn or storehouse for grain.
This name
BarnehouseA topographical name for someone who lived near a barn or granary.
also spelled
Barnehowse
Barnhouse
Barnehows
Related arms
Barnhousevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Parish Registers of Devon, 1600–1650
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wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
