A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bathurst family of England.
Reg. 6373 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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. two bars in chief three crosses formée or”
GloucesterLeachlade · Gloucester, c. 1620
Where the Bathurst Arms Were Recorded
Gloucester
Map of England showing where the Bathurst arms are recorded
The Bathurst 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 Bathurst 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 Bathurst Family in England
The Bathurst family name originates from a specific place in the county of Sussex, England, where the name was first recorded in the Middle Ages. The name is locational, meaning it was likely taken by individuals who lived near or owned a particular piece of land known as Bathurst. By the early 17th century, the family had established a significant presence in the city of Gloucester. Records from 1620 show members of the family living in this area, where they became influential figures in local government and trade. Over time, the family expanded their reach, moving from their original roots in the south of England to become deeply involved in the political and social life of the West Country. This transition helped the family grow in prominence and ensured that the name became well-known throughout the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Batha
An Old English personal name meaning bath or bathing place.
This name
BathurstRefers to a person residing near a specific bath or river crossing.
also spelled
Bathirst
Batherst
Bathurstt
Bathirste
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
The National Archives, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, PROB 11
Gloucestershire Archives, Records of the Corporation of the City of Gloucester, GBR
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
