A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bensley family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0187 · Britain, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ermineDignity and rank
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bombOne who has faced a great siege
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sa. à la fasce d'or semée de mouch. d'herm. du champ et acc. de trois étoiles d'or mouchetées de sa., la fasce ch. d'une bombe crevée, allumée au nat. C.: une main dextre de carn., tenant un panache de pl. d'aut., au nat.”
BritainLondres, c. 1801
Where the Bensley Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Bensley arms are recorded
The Bensley arms were recorded in Londres, c. 1801.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
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 Britain in this period.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1760–1801
Reigning in Britain when the Bensley arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Bensley Family in Britain
The surname Bensley is a locational name that likely originated from a small settlement or homestead in the English countryside. While the name is not as common as others, historical records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the county of Kent by the dawn of the nineteenth century. During this period, Kent served as a vital agricultural and maritime hub, and families like the Bensleys were often involved in the local trades or farming communities that defined the region. The name itself is thought to derive from Old English roots, possibly referring to a specific meadow or clearing belonging to a person named Ben. As the family moved and grew throughout the 1800s, they became part of the broader social fabric of southern England, leaving behind traces in local parish registers and census documents that help us map their presence in the British landscape.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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. on a fesse erm. betw. three mullets of the last a bombshell bursting ppr”
Englandc. 1809
Where the Bensley Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bensley arms are recorded
The Bensley arms were recorded in England, c. 1809.
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.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1801–1820
Reigning in Britain when the Bensley 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 Bensley Family in England
The surname Bensley is rooted in the linguistic traditions of Northern England, where it likely emerged as a locational name derived from a specific place or settlement. By the early nineteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. During this period, York was a major center for commerce and trade, which provided families like the Bensleys with opportunities to participate in the growing urban economy. The name itself follows a pattern common to English surnames, where it evolved from a blend of Old English descriptive terms or geographic markers. While the specific origins of the name remain tied to the regional dialects of Yorkshire, the presence of the family in York by 1809 suggests they were part of the stable, working population that helped define the city’s social fabric during the Industrial Revolution. This era was a time of significant transition for many families, as they moved from rural areas into the heart of England’s ancient northern cities to pursue new livelihoods.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bene-leah
A clearing or meadow belonging to a person named Bene.
This name
BensleyDerived from an Old English locative name referring to a meadow associated with a specific individual.
also spelled
Bensle
Benslee
Bensly
Related arms
Benslevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
The National Archives, 1801 Census Returns and Parish Register Collections, 1801
Kent History and Library Centre, Parish Records of Kent, 1801
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
ermineDignity and rank
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bombOne who has faced a great siege
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ermineDignity and rank
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bombOne who has faced a great siege
