A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Benbow family of England.
Reg. 8594 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Sa. two string-bows endorsed in pale or, garnished gu. betw. two bundles of arrows in fesse, three in each, of the second, barbed and headed ar. banded of the third”
SalopNewport · Salop, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Benbow arms are recorded
The Benbow arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1620.
Shropshire lay on the Welsh border, and border country needed men who could fight. Families held their land in return for service, and service in arms is what a coat of arms was originally for.
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 Benbow 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 Salop.
Origin & History of the Benbow Family in England
The surname Benbow is a locative name that originated in the English West Midlands, specifically within the historic county of Shropshire, which was formerly known as Salop. By the year 1620, the family was well-established in this region, where they were deeply connected to the local landscape and community. Etymologists believe the name is derived from a combination of Old English words, likely referring to a person who lived near a specific hill or a bend in a river. Over several centuries, the family grew from local landholders into a prominent lineage that played significant roles in regional administration and naval history. Because the name is tied to the geography of the Welsh borderlands, it reflects the long history of migration and settlement that defined the English countryside during the late Middle Ages and the early modern period.
Benbow Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
bend bow
To curve or flex a weapon made of wood for shooting arrows.
This name
BenbowAn occupational surname for a skilled archer or a maker of bows.
also spelled
Benboe
Related arms
Barnfieldrecorded with Benbow, same area
Bassettrecorded with Benbow, same area
Billinghurstrecorded with Benbow, same area
Blountrecorded with Benbow, same area
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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Shropshire Archives, Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Visitation Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
