A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barrows family of England.
Reg. 5748 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 torteaux each charged with a fleur-de-lis or, on a chief az. a bugle gold betw. two pheons of the field”
EnglandHayley, c. 1620
Where the Barrows Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Barrows arms are recorded
The Barrows arms were recorded in Hayley, 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 Barrows 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 Barrows Family in England
The surname Barrows is primarily topographical in origin, meaning it was originally used to describe people who lived near a specific landmark. The name is derived from the Old English word "beorh," which refers to a hill, a mound, or a burial tumulus. In early English society, families often took their names from the physical features of the land they occupied, so those living near a prominent hill or an ancient earthwork became known by this descriptor. By the time members of the Barrows family were documented in York in 1620, the name had already been established for generations as a way to identify individuals based on their local geography. These early ancestors were part of a long tradition of families whose identities were deeply rooted in the specific landscapes of Northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
beorg
Old English word meaning a hill, mound, or burial tumulus.
This name
BarrowsA topographic name for someone who lived near a hill or a prehistoric burial mound.
also spelled
Barres
Barowe
Barrowe
Related arms
Barrowsimilar arms
Barowevariant spelling
Barrowevariant spelling
Oliverecorded with Barrows, same area
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, 1958
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
York City Archives, York Freemen’s Register, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
