A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bernake family of England.
Reg. 1991 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
duckResourcefulness on land and water
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 horse barnacles sa”
LeicestershireLeicestershire, c. 1620
Where the Bernake Arms Were Recorded
Leicestershire
Map of England showing where the Bernake arms are recorded
The Bernake arms were recorded in Leicestershire, c. 1620.
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 Bernake 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 Leicestershire.
Origin & History of the Bernake Family in England
The family name Bernake traces its roots back to the rural landscapes of Leicestershire, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1620. During the early seventeenth century, the name was closely tied to the agrarian life of the English Midlands, a region defined by its rolling fields and small parish communities. Families like the Bernakes often lived as yeoman farmers or local landowners who played vital roles in the social and economic structure of their villages. Because surnames were still evolving in their spelling during this era, the name likely emerged from a combination of local place names or descriptive nicknames used to identify individuals within their tight-knit rural circles. By settling in Leicestershire, the early members of this family became part of a long tradition of English country life, contributing to the local history of the county through their work on the land and their participation in parish life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bern
Derived from the Germanic word for bear.
This name
BernakeA locational surname referring to a dweller near a bear-inhabited clearing or stream.
also spelled
Bernacke
Related arms
Barnakevariant spelling
Bernackevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Leicestershire Record Office, Bishop’s Transcripts of Leicestershire Parish Registers, 1620
Nichols, John, The History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester, 1795
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duckResourcefulness on land and water
duckResourcefulness on land and water
