A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bicknell family of England.
Reg. 8080 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
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. two bars gu. over all a lion ramp. of the first”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bicknell Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bicknell arms are recorded
The Bicknell 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 Bicknell 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 Bicknell Family in England
The surname Bicknell is of English origin and is traditionally linked to the geography of the southwestern counties, particularly Somerset. The name is locational, meaning it was likely derived from a specific place name such as Bickenhall, which translates to the nook or corner of land belonging to a person named Bica. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established roots in various parts of England, including the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Bicknell family were present in York by 1620, reflecting a period when families were beginning to move between regional hubs for trade and professional opportunities. This movement helped the family name spread from its rural origins into the urban centers of northern England during a time of significant social and economic transition.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bican
An Old English personal name derived from the word for a pitcher.
This name
BicknellRefers to a dweller at the slope or hill belonging to a person named Bican.
also spelled
Bicknall
Bicknoll
Related arms
Bicknall, or Bicknellvariant spelling
Bicknollvariant spelling
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
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1960
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Account Rolls, 1620
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
