A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Belgrave family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7590 · Britain, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'herm. à trois fusées de gu., rangées en fasce et vidées.”
Britainc. 1700
Where the Belgrave Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Belgrave arms are recorded
The Belgrave arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Belgrave arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Belgrave Family in Britain
The surname Belgrave is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. While the name is famously associated with the Belgrave district in London, historical records show that families bearing this name were well-established in the county of Kent by the early 1700s. During this period, the family lived as part of the local gentry and agricultural society, often appearing in parish registers that tracked births, marriages, and deaths within the Church of England. Because the name implies a connection to a "beautiful grove" or a specific estate, it is likely that early ancestors were landowners or tenants who took their name from the geography of their home. As the family grew in Kent, they participated in the local economy and social structures that defined rural British life at the turn of the eighteenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. on a cross sa. five fleurs-de-lis of the field”
SuffolkCockfield · Suffolk, c. 1620
Where the Belgrave Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Belgrave arms are recorded
The Belgrave arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Britain when the Belgrave 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Belgrave Family in England
The surname Belgrave is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. Etymologically, the name is derived from the Old French words "bel," meaning beautiful, and "grave," which refers to a grove or a wooded area. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Suffolk, particularly around the year 1620. During this period, families in Suffolk were often involved in the thriving wool trade or local agriculture, which defined the social and economic landscape of East Anglia. As the family settled into this region, they became part of the local fabric of English village life, contributing to the agricultural and administrative development of the area long before the name spread to other parts of the country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bellus Grave
Latin for beautiful or fair grove or thicket.
This name
BelgraveA habitational name derived from a place in Normandy meaning beautiful grove.
also spelled
Belgrayv
Belgraive
Belgreve
Related arms
Bettsrecorded with Belgrave, same area
Colepeperrecorded with Belgrave, same area
Culpeperrecorded with Belgrave, same area
Springrecorded with Belgrave, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Kent History and Library Centre, Parish Registers of Kent, 1700–1750
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
