Bidgood Coat of Arms Record & History

A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bidgood family of England.

Reg. 8228 · English, A–C

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Where the Bidgood Arms Were Recorded

York
Map of England showing where the Bidgood arms are recorded

The Bidgood arms were recorded in England, c. 1813.

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.

Region
York
First recorded
1813

Granting Authority for the Bidgood Arms

Arms of College of Arms
College of Arms Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
Authority

College of Arms

1484-present

The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.

Portrait of George III of Great Britain
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period

George III of Great Britain

1801–1820

Reigning in England when the Bidgood 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 Bidgood Family in England

The surname Bidgood is primarily rooted in the southwestern counties of England, particularly Devon and Somerset, where it emerged as a locative or descriptive name during the medieval period. Etymologists often trace the name to Old English roots that suggest a meaning related to a "good bid" or a favorable prayer, possibly referring to a person who was known for their piety or their role in local community affairs. While the family established deep roots in the West Country, members of the lineage eventually migrated to various industrial hubs across the British Isles. By 1813, records confirm that the Bidgood family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. This movement likely coincided with the broader internal migrations of the nineteenth century, as families sought new economic opportunities in growing urban centers. Over time, the name evolved from its rural origins to become a distinct part of the social fabric in northern English cities.

Related Branches & Arms

Root word
bide god

Old English phrase meaning to remain or wait for God.

This name
BidgoodA pious nickname for someone who trusts in or waits upon the divine will.
also spelled
Bydgood
Bidgode
Bydgode
Bydgoode
Related arms
Bydgoodevariant spelling

Documented Sources

Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884

Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991

Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901

Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Parish Registers, 1813

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