A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bigwood family of England.
Reg. 8410 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
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. on a chief gu. three (another, two) crescents of the field”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bigwood Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bigwood arms are recorded
The Bigwood 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 Bigwood 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 Bigwood Family in England
The surname Bigwood is a locative name, which means it was originally used to describe people who lived near a significant forest or a large wooded area. In Middle English, the name combined the words "big" and "wood" to identify families dwelling by a prominent landmark in the landscape. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Bigwood family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and administration in Northern England, suggesting that these early ancestors were likely integrated into the local urban economy. As the family grew, they moved through various social roles, leaving behind traces in parish registers and legal documents that track their presence in the region for centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bycwode
Old English words for dwelling or habitation and a wooded area.
This name
BigwoodA topographic name for someone who lived near a large or significant forest.
also spelled
Bygwood
Bygwod
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, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
