A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bendy family of England.
Reg. 9981 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
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)
“Ar. two bars az. each charged with three martlets”
StaffordKingswinford · Stafford, c. 1620
Where the Bendy Arms Were Recorded
Stafford
Map of England showing where the Bendy arms are recorded
The Bendy arms were recorded in Stafford, c. 1620.
Staffordshire was mixed country of moorland, farmland and early ironworking. Its landed families were spread widely rather than concentrated, and each holding brought its own claim to 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 Bendy 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 Stafford.
Origin & History of the Bendy Family in England
The surname Bendy is rooted in the English Midlands, with historical records confirming that members of the family were well-established in the county of Staffordshire by the early seventeenth century. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname, potentially referring to a person with a flexible or stooped physical posture, or perhaps someone who lived near a bend in a local river or road. By 1620, the Bendy family had become part of the local fabric of Stafford, where they participated in the daily life, trade, and administrative affairs of the town. During this period, families often lived in the same parish for generations, allowing the Bendy name to become a recognized part of the regional identity. As the family grew, they contributed to the development of the local community through their work and their presence in parish registers, which serve as the primary evidence of their long-standing connection to the Staffordshire landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Benedictus
Latin term meaning blessed or well spoken of.
This name
BendyA medieval diminutive form derived from the Latin name meaning blessed.
also spelled
Bendie
Bendey
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Staffordshire Record Office, Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry: Parish registers for the parish of St Mary, Stafford, 1620
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
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martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
