Map of England showing where the Bedwell arms are recorded
The Bedwell arms were recorded in Camden's Grants, 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 Bedwell 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 Bedwell Family in England
The surname Bedwell is of English origin and is classified as a locative name, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place. Etymologists believe the name derives from the Old English words "bedd," meaning a garden plot or a bed of water, and "wielle," meaning a spring or stream. This suggests that the earliest families to carry the name likely lived near a prominent water source or a cultivated patch of land. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Bedwell family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, families in northern England were often deeply integrated into the local trade and civic life of their home cities. The presence of the Bedwell name in York during the early seventeenth century highlights the family's long-standing roots in the region as they contributed to the local community and economy.
Bedwell Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Bedewelle
A stream or spring located near a bed or burial site.
This name
BedwellDerived from a topographic location referring to a water source near a specific dwelling.
also spelled
Bedewell
Bedewelle
Related arms
Bedewellvariant spelling
Austinrecorded with Bedwell, same area
Bamfieldrecorded with Bedwell, same area
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 City Archives, York Freemen’s Register, 1272–1759
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saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
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saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
