A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beech family of England.
Reg. 2876 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Vaire ar. and gu. on a canton of the second a garb or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Beech Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Beech arms are recorded
The Beech 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 Beech 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 Beech Family in England
The surname Beech is classified as a topographical name, which means it was originally given to people who lived near a prominent landmark. In this case, the name identified families who resided close to a beech tree or a forest filled with beech wood. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Beech family were established in the city of York. During this era, York was a bustling center of trade and religion in Northern England. Families living there often relied on the local wool industry or small-scale commerce to support their households. As the family settled into the urban landscape of York, the name became a permanent way to distinguish their lineage from neighbors who lived near other natural features like hills or streams.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bece
Old English word for the beech tree.
This name
BeechA topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent beech tree or forest.
also spelled
Beche
Bechee
Related arms
Bechesame arms
Beachvariant spelling
Becheevariant 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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate 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.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
