A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Birbeck family of England.
Reg. 7293 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. a fesse chequy or and sa. betw. three lions' heads erased gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Birbeck Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Birbeck arms are recorded
The Birbeck 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 Birbeck 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 Birbeck Family in England
The surname Birbeck is rooted in the northern regions of England, where it developed as a locative name. This means the family likely took their name from a specific place, specifically the village of Birkbeck in Westmorland. The name itself comes from Old Norse words meaning a birch tree stream, which describes the landscape where the first people to use the name lived. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Birbeck family were active in the civic and social life of this historic city. Over time, the spelling of the name shifted slightly, but it remained tied to the northern English identity of its ancestors who moved from the rural countryside into growing urban centers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Birch-beck
A stream or brook lined with birch trees.
This name
BirbeckA topographic name for someone who lived near a stream bordered by birch trees.
also spelled
Byrbeck
Related arms
Birkbecksame arms
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Account Books, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
