Map of England showing where the Bester arms are recorded
The Bester 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 Bester 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 Bester Family in England
The surname Bester has roots that trace back to the medieval period in England, where it likely originated as an occupational name. In the Middle Ages, a "bester" was often a person who dealt in livestock or served as a cattle drover, as the word is closely related to the Old English term for a beast. By the early 17th century, records confirm that members of the Bester family were well-established in the historic city of York. Living in a major northern hub like York suggests that these early ancestors were likely involved in the city's vibrant trade networks or local craft guilds. Over time, the family name spread from these urban centers into the surrounding countryside, marking the Bester line as a long-standing part of English social history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Best
Derived from the Middle English word for a beast or animal.
This name
BesterAn occupational surname for a herdsman or someone who tended to livestock.
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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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