A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bever family of England.
Reg. 8340 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 beavers' tails gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bever Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bever arms are recorded
The Bever 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 Bever 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 Bever Family in England
The surname Bever is rooted in the linguistic traditions of Northern England, where it likely originated as a descriptive name or a locational marker. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Bever family were established residents of York. During this period, York served as a vital center for trade and administration, placing the family at the heart of a bustling urban environment. The name itself is often associated with the Old French word for beaver, which may have been used as a nickname for someone with industrious traits or a connection to the local fur trade. As the family settled into the social fabric of Yorkshire, they became part of the long history of northern English lineages that helped shape the region through commerce and local civic life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
beofor
Old English word for the semi-aquatic mammal known as a beaver.
This name
BeverA topographic name for someone who lived near a stream frequented by beavers.
also spelled
Beaver
Related arms
Beavervariant spelling
Crisperecorded with Bever, same area
Goodwinrecorded with Bever, same area
Hullrecorded with Bever, same area
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
The National Archives, Yorkshire Parish Registers, 1620
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otterOne who lives life to the full
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