A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ben family of England.
Reg. 3108 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. a fesse dancettée gu”
SurreySurrey, c. 1620
Where the Ben Arms Were Recorded
Surrey
Map of England showing where the Ben arms are recorded
The Ben arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1620.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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 Ben 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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Ben Family in England
The surname Ben is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a short form of the name Benjamin or Benedict. In the early seventeenth century, the family established a notable presence in the county of Surrey. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Ben family were living in this region during a time of significant social and agricultural transition in England. As a name rooted in biblical tradition, it was common for families to adopt these shortened versions to distinguish themselves within local parish communities. By settling in Surrey, the early members of the family became part of the local history of the English countryside, likely working in trades or farming that defined the economy of the area during the reign of King James I.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Benjamin
Hebrew for son of the right hand
This name
BenA patronymic surname derived from a shortened form of the biblical name Benjamin.
also spelled
Benne
Benns
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
Surrey History Centre, Parish Registers of Surrey, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
