Map of England showing where the Binns arms are recorded
The Binns 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 Binns 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 Binns Family in England
The surname Binns is a locative name, which means it originally described the place where a person lived. It is derived from the Old English word "binn," which referred to a manger, a storage chest, or a fenced-in enclosure used for livestock. Families who took this name likely lived near a specific hollow or a sheltered area of land that resembled these structures. By the early 17th century, the Binns family was well-established in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 show members of the family living and working within the city walls during a period of significant social and economic change in Northern England. As the family grew, they became part of the local community, contributing to the trade and civic life that defined York during the Stuart era.
Binns Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Ben
A diminutive form of the name Benjamin meaning son of the right hand.
This name
BinnsA topographical surname referring to someone who lived near a hollow or a hilly landscape.
also spelled
Bynns
Binnes
Byne
Related arms
Bynevariant 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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Account Rolls, 1620
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savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
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