A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Belson family of England.
Reg. 4639 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Per pale gu. and sa. on a chev. (sometimes engr.) or, betw. three greyhounds' heads erased ar. collared gold, as many hurts”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Belson Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Belson arms are recorded
The Belson 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 Belson 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 Belson Family in England
The surname Belson is rooted in the historical landscape of Northern England, with significant evidence placing the family in the city of York by the year 1620. The name is generally considered a patronymic, meaning it likely originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Bell, which was a common medieval nickname for a person named Isabel. During the early seventeenth century, families in York often lived within the bustling walls of the city, where they participated in the local trade guilds and parish life that defined the era. As the Belson family established themselves in this region, they became part of the dense social fabric of Yorkshire, contributing to the local economy and community development. Over the following centuries, members of the family moved beyond these initial urban centers, carrying their name into various parts of England and eventually across the globe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bel
A diminutive form of the Old French word for beautiful or fair.
This name
BelsonA patronymic surname meaning son of Bell, a pet form of the name Isabel.
also spelled
Belsun
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
The National Archives, York City Archives: House Books, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
