A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bawden family of England.
Reg. 5134 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
swordJustice, and military honour
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. a chev. betw. three griffins' heads, couped or, each transfixed with a dagger, the blade ppr. pomel gold”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bawden Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bawden arms are recorded
The Bawden 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 Bawden 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 Bawden Family in England
The surname Bawden is a variation of the name Baldwin, which originates from the Old German words for "bold" and "friend." By the early 17th century, families carrying this name had established a firm presence in the historic city of York. During this era, York served as a major center for trade and religious life in Northern England, and families like the Bawdens were often involved in the local merchant guilds or skilled crafts that defined the city’s economy. Because surnames were still evolving in their spelling during this period, the name appeared in various forms in parish registers and legal documents. These early Bawdens were part of a growing urban middle class that helped shape the social and economic landscape of York long before the industrial changes of later centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Baldwin
Derived from the Germanic elements for bold and friend.
This name
BawdenA Cornish patronymic surname meaning son of the bold friend.
also spelled
Bawdon
Bauden
Related arms
Bowdenvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
York Minster Archives, Parish Register Transcripts of York, 1620
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
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
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
swordJustice, and military honour
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
swordJustice, and military honour
