A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Berkley family of England.
Reg. 9761 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. two lions pass. or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Berkley Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Berkley arms are recorded
The Berkley 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 Berkley 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 Berkley Family in England
The name Berkley originates from Old English roots, combining the words for birch tree and a clearing in the woods. While the name is famously tied to a prominent estate in Gloucestershire, branches of the family spread across England over many centuries. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the historic city of York. During this period, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration, suggesting that these early ancestors were likely involved in the city’s merchant class or local governance. As they settled into the northern landscape, they helped weave the family name into the fabric of regional life, moving away from their southern origins to build new legacies in the bustling streets of Yorkshire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
beorc and leah
Old English words for birch tree and a woodland clearing.
This name
BerkleyA habitational name referring to someone who lived near a birch tree meadow.
also spelled
Berkeley
Barkley
Berkely
Related arms
Barkleyvariant spelling
Berkeleyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
