Map of England showing where the Bellwood arms are recorded
The Bellwood 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 Bellwood 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 Bellwood Family in England
The Bellwood surname is a locational name, which means it likely originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name is composed of two Old English elements, "bell" and "wood," suggesting that the family’s earliest ancestors lived near a woodland area that was perhaps marked by a prominent hill or a clearing associated with a bell. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Bellwood family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a bustling center of commerce and religion in Northern England, and families living there often played active roles in the local parish life and trade guilds. The presence of the family in such a significant urban hub indicates that they were likely integrated into the social and economic fabric of the region long before the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bel-wudu
Old English for beautiful or fair wood
This name
BellwoodA habitational name referring to someone who lived near a beautiful or fair forest.
also spelled
Belwode
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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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caltrapA warning to enemies of a well-defended position
caltrapA warning to enemies of a well-defended position
