Map of England showing where the Bennett arms are recorded
The Bennett arms were recorded in England, c. 1560.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Bennett 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 Bennett Family in England
The surname Bennett is a derivative of the medieval name Benedict, which originates from the Latin word meaning blessed. During the Middle Ages, this name became popular across England because it was associated with Saint Benedict, the founder of the Benedictine monastic order. By the time the name appeared in York records in 1560, it had already transitioned from a personal name to a hereditary family surname. Families carrying this name were often found in northern England, where they worked as farmers, tradespeople, or local merchants. Because the name was linked to religious devotion, it spread quickly through parish registers as families recorded births and marriages in their local churches. This transition from a religious title to a family name reflects the broader social changes in England during the sixteenth century, as people began to use fixed surnames to identify their lineage and legal standing within their communities.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Quarterly, ar and or, an eagle displ. with two heads gu”
LimerickKnockbillingsby · Limerick, c. 1645
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Map of Ireland showing where the Bennett arms are recorded
The Bennett arms were recorded in Limerick, c. 1645.
Limerick was river country in western Ireland with a walled city at its centre. Merchant families ran the city and bought land around it, and both the trade and the land brought 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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in England when the Bennett arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Limerick.
Origin & History of the Bennett Family in Ireland
The name Bennett arrived in Ireland primarily through English settlers who moved across the Irish Sea during the seventeenth century. By the year 1645, records confirm that members of the Bennett family had established a notable presence in County Limerick. During this period, the family became part of the shifting social landscape of the region as land ownership and political power underwent significant changes. Many people with this surname integrated into local trade and civic life, often serving as merchants or landowners in the urban centers of the province of Munster. Over the following generations, the family name became firmly rooted in the local history of Limerick, reflecting the broader patterns of migration and settlement that defined the era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. three goats' heads erased sa. barbed and double armed or, langued gu. quartering Grose”
GlamorganLaleston · Glamorgan, c. 1647
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Map of Wales showing where the Bennett arms are recorded
The Bennett arms were recorded in Glamorgan, c. 1647.
Glamorgan was the richest part of Wales, with good coastal farmland and Norman castles along it. The families who held those castles kept their land for centuries, and long holding brought recorded 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 Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in England when the Bennett arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Glamorgan.
Origin & History of the Bennett Family in Wales
The name Bennett is a derivative of the medieval given name Benedict, which translates to "blessed." While the name has roots across the British Isles, its presence in Wales became notable during the seventeenth century. By 1647, records confirm that families bearing the Bennett name were established in the county of Glamorgan. During this era, the region was experiencing significant social and economic shifts as families began to settle more permanently on ancestral lands. These early Welsh Bennetts were often involved in local agriculture or trade, integrating into the tight-knit communities of the South Wales valleys. As the name became more common in the area, it transitioned from a personal identifier into a stable hereditary surname that linked generations of families to the specific landscape of Glamorgan.
Bennett Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Benedictus
Latin term meaning blessed or well spoken of.
This name
BennettDerived from a medieval personal name signifying one who is blessed.
also spelled
Bennot
Related arms
Bonnettsame arms
Pitmansame arms
Cliffordrecorded with Bennett, same area
Comerfordrecorded with Bennett, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Records: Parish Registers of York, 1560
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force