A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bartlet family of England.
Reg. 9894 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
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)
“Quarterly, per fesse indented az. and gu. four crescents counterchanged”
GloucesterGloucester, c. 1620
Where the Bartlet Arms Were Recorded
Gloucester
Map of England showing where the Bartlet arms are recorded
The Bartlet arms were recorded in Gloucester, c. 1620.
Gloucestershire had good farmland, a cloth trade in its valleys and a river carrying goods to Bristol. All three made money, and money bought the estates that brought arms with them.
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 Bartlet 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 Gloucester.
Origin & History of the Bartlet Family in England
The surname Bartlet is a variation of the name Bartholomew, which originates from the Aramaic language and means son of Talmai. During the Middle Ages, it became common for people to adopt the names of their fathers as surnames to help distinguish individuals in growing communities. By the time the family arrived in Gloucester, Massachusetts, in the early 1600s, the name had already been established in England for several generations. These early settlers were part of the wave of migration that sought to build new lives in the American colonies. Life in Gloucester during the 1620s was defined by the harsh demands of fishing and farming along the rugged coastline. The Bartlet family played a role in the development of this early maritime community as they helped establish the foundations of the town. Their presence in these historical records reflects the broader movement of families who transitioned from English village life to the challenges of the New World.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bartholomaeus
Aramaic name meaning son of Talmai or son of the furrow.
This name
BartletA medieval diminutive form of Bartholomew, signifying a descendant of the son of Talmai.
also spelled
Bartelot
Related arms
Barletvariant spelling
Bartheletvariant spelling
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
Babson, John J., History of the Town of Gloucester, Cape Ann, including the Town of Rockport, 1860
Massachusetts State Archives, Colonial Records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Essex County Registry of Deeds, Early Probate and Land Records
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
