A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Benger family of England.
Reg. 5819 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Or, a cross vert over all a bendlet gu”
KentKent, c. 1620
Where the Benger Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Benger arms are recorded
The Benger arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Benger 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Benger Family in England
The Benger family name has deep roots in the English county of Kent, where records confirm members of the family were well-established by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a topographical surname, which was a common way for people to identify themselves based on the specific landscape or landmark where they lived. In Old English, the prefix "beng" or "ben" often related to grassy areas or bean fields, while the suffix "er" typically indicated a person who lived near or worked on such land. By the early 17th century, the Bengers were part of the local fabric of Kentish society, participating in the agricultural and community life that defined the region during the Stuart period. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local economy, with many members serving as skilled tradespeople or yeoman farmers who helped maintain the rural stability of the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berengar
Derived from the Germanic elements for bear and spear.
This name
BengerA habitational name for someone from the village of Benger in Wiltshire.
also spelled
Bengar
Bengerre
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
Kent Archives, Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury Wills, 1620
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
