A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barrens family of Ireland.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Barry of six ar. gu. and az”
The Barrens arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
Reigning in Ireland when the Barrens arms are first recorded.
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
The family name Barrens has roots that trace back to the mid-seventeenth century in Dublin, Ireland. By 1645, members of the family were already established residents within the city, a time when Dublin was undergoing significant social and political upheaval. The name itself likely originated as a topographical surname, which was a common practice during this era to describe where a person lived. It is probable that the earliest ancestors bearing this name resided near or worked upon land described as barren, which referred to uncultivated or open stretches of countryside. As these individuals settled into the urban environment of Dublin, they became part of the city's growing merchant and labor classes. Over the following generations, the family name persisted through the transition of Dublin from a medieval walled town into a major center of trade and administration.
Derived from the Gaelic word for a spear or point.
