A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Berkeley family of England.
Reg. 7291 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Gu. a bend sinister ar”
Englandc. 1219
Where the Berkeley Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Berkeley arms are recorded
The Berkeley arms were recorded in England, c. 1219.
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.
Henry III of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry III of England
1216–1272
Reigning in England when the Berkeley 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 Berkeley Family in England
The history of the Berkeley family name is deeply rooted in the landscape of medieval England, with early records placing members of the family in the city of York as far back as 1219. The name itself is locative, meaning it was originally adopted by people who lived near or originated from a place called Berkeley. While the most famous branch of the family became associated with Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire, the presence of the name in northern England suggests that the family had established roots in multiple regions during the thirteenth century. These early individuals were often involved in local administration and land management, which helped the name persist through generations of social and political change. By documenting their presence in legal and municipal records, historians have been able to trace how this family integrated into the fabric of medieval society long before the rise of modern surnames.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
beorc and leah
Old English words for birch tree and a woodland clearing.
This name
BerkeleyRefers to a person who lived near a clearing characterized by birch trees.
also spelled
Berkley
Berckley
Barkley
Berklee
Berkely
Related arms
Barclayvariant spelling
Barcley, or Barkelevariant spelling
Barkleyvariant spelling
Berkleyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Clay, Charles Travis. Early Yorkshire Charters, 1935
Surtees Society. The Publications of the Surtees Society, 1835
The National Archives. Curia Regis Rolls, 1219
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
