A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Berlinger family of England.
Reg. 0821 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
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)
“Ar. three annulets, two and one, conjoined to a fourth in the centre by a fillet sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Berlinger Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Berlinger arms are recorded
The Berlinger 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 Berlinger 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 Berlinger Family in England
The name Berlinger is a topographic surname that originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe, likely referring to someone who lived near a specific hill or a settlement associated with the name Berlin. By the early 17th century, members of the family had migrated to England, establishing a documented presence in the city of York by 1620. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious transition, and families like the Berlingers often worked as skilled craftsmen or merchants who integrated into the local urban economy. The movement of the family from the continent to Northern England reflects the broader patterns of European migration during the late Renaissance, when individuals frequently traveled across borders to seek new opportunities in growing English market towns. Because they settled in a major administrative hub like York, their names were recorded in local parish registers and civic documents, which helped preserve their history for future generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berling
A Germanic patronymic suffix denoting descendants of a person named Berilo.
This name
BerlingerRefers to a person originating from the settlement of the descendants of Berilo.
also spelled
Berlingar
Berlynger
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
Boulton, Jeremy, Neighbourhood and Society: A London Suburb in the Seventeenth Century, 1987
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Account Rolls, 1620
York Minster Library and Archives, Parish Registers of York, 1620
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ringFidelity, and a promise kept
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
