A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bees family of England.
Reg. 7261 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
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)
“Gu. an eagle recursant volant in bend wings overture or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bees Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bees arms are recorded
The Bees 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 Bees 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 Bees Family in England
The family name Bees has deep roots in the historic city of York, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religion, and families like the Bees were often part of the skilled working class that kept the city running. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a reference to a person’s occupation, possibly linked to someone who worked with honey or lived near a place known for its beehives. As the family grew, they became part of the local community fabric, witnessing the many changes that transformed York from a medieval stronghold into a modern regional hub. By staying in one area for generations, the early Bees family helped build the local traditions and social history that define the region today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Beo
An Old English word meaning bee or a nickname for a busy person.
This name
BeesA topographic name for someone who lived near a beehive or a nickname for an industrious individual.
also spelled
Beesey
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
