A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bignell family of England.
Reg. 2149 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
lionCourage, strength and royalty
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Erm. a lion ramp. gu. on a chief az. an ear of big-wheat couped and bladed or, betw. two estoiles ar”
EnglandSalisbury, c. 1620
Where the Bignell Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bignell arms are recorded
The Bignell arms were recorded in Salisbury, 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 Bignell 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 Bignell Family in England
The Bignell family name is believed to have originated as a locational surname, likely derived from a place name in England that described a specific landscape feature. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Bignell family were firmly established in the historic city of York. During this period, York served as a major center for trade and religious life in Northern England. Families living there often worked as skilled tradespeople or merchants who contributed to the growing economy of the region. As the family settled into the city, they became part of the local community fabric, leaving behind traces in parish registers and legal documents that help historians track their movement through the seventeenth century. These early ancestors likely navigated the challenges of a changing England, helping to build the foundations of the family lineage that persists today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bignell
Derived from the Old French bigne meaning a swelling or bump.
This name
BignellRefers to someone who lived near a rounded hill or a swelling in the landscape.
also spelled
Bignall
Bygnell
Bygnall
Related arms
Beegnel, or Begnyevariant 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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Archives: Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
lionCourage, strength and royalty
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
lionCourage, strength and royalty
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
