A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Basket family of England.
Reg. 4926 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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. a chev. erm. betw. three leopards' faces or”
DorsetIsle · Dorset, c. 1620
Where the Basket Arms Were Recorded
Dorset
Map of England showing where the Basket arms are recorded
The Basket arms were recorded in Dorset, c. 1620.
Dorset was quiet farming and grazing country along the south coast. Its gentry were middling rather than grand, but they held their manors for a very long time, and long holding is what puts a name in the records.
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 Basket 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 Dorset.
Origin & History of the Basket Family in England
The surname Basket is an ancient occupational name that likely originated in England during the Middle Ages. It was traditionally given to people who worked as basket makers, a vital trade in a time when woven containers were essential for farming, storage, and daily transport. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Dorset. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Basket family were living in this region, where they were often involved in local community life and land ownership. Over the centuries, the name evolved alongside the English language, reflecting the transition from a simple job description to a permanent family identity that persisted through generations of rural life in the West Country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bascauda
A Latin term for a woven vessel or basket.
This name
BasketAn occupational name for a maker or seller of woven baskets.
also spelled
Baskat
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
Dorset History Centre, Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
