A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bevis family of England.
Reg. 4530 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. a saltire ar. a chief indented, point en point, of the second and first”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bevis Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bevis arms are recorded
The Bevis 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 Bevis 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 Bevis Family in England
The surname Bevis has roots that stretch back to the medieval period, originating as a locative name derived from the town of Beauvais in northern France. Following the Norman Conquest, the name was brought to England and gradually transformed into the spelling used today. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Bevis family were active participants in the local community during this era of English history. As residents of a major northern trade hub, these early ancestors likely engaged in the mercantile and civic life that defined York at the time. Their presence in such a historically significant city suggests that the family was well-integrated into the social and economic fabric of the region long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Beauvais
A place name in France derived from the Bellovaci tribe.
This name
BevisA locative surname for someone who originated from the town of Beauvais in northern France.
also spelled
Beavis
Related arms
Beavisvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
The National Archives, Probate Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
