A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bather family of England.
Reg. 3052 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wolfReward from long service and hard work
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. three wolves' heads erased ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bather Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bather arms are recorded
The Bather arms were recorded in England, 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 Bather 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 Bather Family in England
The surname Bather is an occupational name that likely emerged in medieval England to describe someone who worked in a public bathhouse. During the Middle Ages, these establishments were important social centers where people gathered for hygiene and relaxation. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Bather family were living in York by 1620, a time when the city was a major hub for trade and local government in Northern England. As residents of such a significant urban center, these early family members were likely integrated into the bustling merchant and craft guilds that defined the city’s economy. Over time, the name transitioned from a description of a specific job into a permanent family identifier passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
baethere
Old English term referring to a bath attendant or keeper of baths.
This name
BatherAn occupational surname for someone who worked at or managed a public bathhouse.
also spelled
Batherre
Bathar
Related arms
Bathorvariant 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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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wolfReward from long service and hard work
wolfReward from long service and hard work
