A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beddow family of England.
Reg. 2569 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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, 1st and 4th, gu. a lion ramp. reguard. or.; 2nd and 3rd, ar. three boars' heads, two and one couped sa”
SalopCheney · Salop, c. 1620
Where the Beddow Arms Were Recorded
Salop
Map of England showing where the Beddow arms are recorded
The Beddow arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1620.
Shropshire lay on the Welsh border, and border country needed men who could fight. Families held their land in return for service, and service in arms is what a coat of arms was originally for.
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 Beddow 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 Salop.
Origin & History of the Beddow Family in England
The surname Beddow is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person by their father’s name. It is derived from the Welsh name Ap-Eddow, which translates to the son of Eddow. Over time, the prefix was dropped and the sounds merged to form the modern spelling. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the county of Salop, also known as Shropshire. During this period, the region served as a cultural bridge between England and Wales, which explains why many names in the area reflect these strong Welsh roots. Families with this name were typically involved in local agriculture or trade, living as part of the rural communities that defined the English borderlands for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ap Eddow
A Welsh patronymic prefix meaning son of followed by a personal name.
This name
BeddowDerived from the Welsh patronymic form meaning son of Eddow, a diminutive of Edward.
also spelled
Beddow
Beddowes
Bedo
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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Shropshire Archives, Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
lionCourage, strength and royalty
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
