A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barney family of England.
Reg. 5919 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. three leopards' faces ar”
KentKent, c. 1620
Where the Barney Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Barney arms are recorded
The Barney arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 Barney 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Barney Family in England
The surname Barney has deep roots in England, with historical records confirming that members of the family were established in the county of Kent by the year 1620. The name itself is thought to have originated as a shortened form of the name Barnaby, which is a variation of the ancient name Barnabas. In early medieval times, surnames often developed from a person's father or a common nickname, and Barney likely began as a way to identify individuals within their local community. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Kent, a region known for its agricultural wealth and proximity to London. By the early seventeenth century, the name was well-settled in the area, reflecting a long history of families who lived and worked on the English landscape for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Barnabas
Aramaic for son of consolation or son of encouragement.
This name
BarneyA patronymic surname derived from a diminutive form of the given name Barnabas.
also spelled
Barne
Barnee
Barneis
Related arms
Barnevariant spelling
Barneisvariant spelling
Berneyrecorded with Barney, same area
Hoghtonrecorded with Barney, same area
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
Kent Archives, Quarter Sessions Records, Q/S/P
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
