A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Benjamen family of England.
Reg. 2111 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
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)
“Or, on a saltire quarterly pierced sa. five annulets counterchanged”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Benjamen Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Benjamen arms are recorded
The Benjamen 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 Benjamen 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 Benjamen Family in England
The surname Benjamen originates as a patronymic name, meaning it was derived from the given name of a father or ancestor. It is rooted in the Hebrew name Binyamin, which translates to son of the right hand. By the early 17th century, the name had become established in England, with records confirming that members of the family were living in the city of York by 1620. During this era, surnames were becoming increasingly fixed as families settled into specific regions and began appearing more frequently in parish registers and tax rolls. The presence of the Benjamen family in a major northern hub like York suggests they were likely involved in the local trade or craft guilds that defined the city’s economy at the time. As the family grew, they contributed to the social fabric of the region, leaving behind a legacy that reflects the transition from simple naming traditions to the formal family identities we recognize today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Binyamin
Hebrew for son of the right hand
This name
BenjamenA variant of Benjamin, traditionally signifying a favored or fortunate son.
also spelled
Benjamin
Benjamyn
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, Parish Registers of York, series PR/YOR
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
