A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barnhouse family of England.
Reg. 8759 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Sa. a pair of wings inverted and conjoined ar”
DevonshireDevonshire, c. 1620
Where the Barnhouse Arms Were Recorded
Devonshire
Map of England showing where the Barnhouse arms are recorded
The Barnhouse arms were recorded in Devonshire, c. 1620.
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 Barnhouse 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 Devonshire.
Origin & History of the Barnhouse Family in England
The surname Barnhouse is a locational name that likely originated from a specific homestead or farmstead in England. By the early 17th century, the family was well-established in the county of Devonshire, a region known for its rolling hills and long history of agricultural settlement. The name itself suggests a connection to a "barn house," which was a common term for a structure used to store grain or house livestock. Families during this period often took their surnames from the physical features of their land or the primary buildings on their property. Because the name appears in Devonshire records by 1620, it is clear that these early ancestors were deeply rooted in the local community and likely worked the land as farmers or tradespeople. This connection to the landscape helped define their identity and allowed the name to persist through generations as they moved from their original homesteads into the wider world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bern-hus
Old English for a storage building used for grain or barley.
This name
BarnhouseA topographic name for someone who lived near a barn or granary.
also spelled
Barnehouse
Bernhouse
Barnhowse
Related arms
Barnehousevariant spelling
Barnhowsevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Parish Registers of Devon, 1620
Hoskins, W.G., Devon, 1954
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wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
