A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Berney family of England.
Reg. 4141 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Quarterly: gu. and az. over all a cross engr. erm”
NorfolkPark Hall · Norfolk, c. 1620
Where the Berney Arms Were Recorded
Norfolk
Map of England showing where the Berney arms are recorded
The Berney arms were recorded in Norfolk, c. 1620.
Norfolk grew rich on wool and grain, and its wealth was spread among many middling families rather than a few great ones. Households of that kind bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Berney 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 Norfolk.
Origin & History of the Berney Family in England
The Berney family has deep roots in the county of Norfolk, where they established themselves as prominent landowners and local leaders by the early 17th century. The name itself is thought to be locational, likely originating from the village of Berney near Acle in Norfolk. By 1620, the family was well-entrenched in the social fabric of the region, with members frequently serving as high sheriffs and representatives in local government. Their long presence in East Anglia allowed them to build significant estates and influence the development of the local countryside over several generations. This connection to the Norfolk landscape remained a defining feature of the family identity for centuries as they managed their lands and participated in the political life of the English gentry.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bern
Old Germanic word for bear
This name
BerneyDerived from a place name meaning a clearing or island inhabited by bears
also spelled
Bernay
Bernie
Berny
Related arms
Barneyrecorded with Berney, same area
Hoghtonrecorded with Berney, same area
Parkerrecorded with Berney, same area
Taylorrecorded with Berney, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blomefield, Francis, An Essay Towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk, 1739
Dashwood, G.H., The Visitation of Norfolk in the Year 1563, 1878
Norfolk Record Office, Berney Family of Kirby Bedon: Estate and Family Records, 1600–1900
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
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