Map of England showing where the Birdwell arms are recorded
The Birdwell arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Birdwell 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Birdwell Family in England
The family name Birdwell is rooted in the English landscape, specifically within the county of Suffolk where the family was established by the early seventeenth century. The name is topographical in origin, meaning it likely described a person who lived near a specific landmark, such as a spring or a well frequented by birds. During the 1620s, families bearing this name were part of the rural population in East Anglia, a region known for its strong agricultural traditions and growing textile industry. As these early ancestors navigated life in Suffolk, they contributed to the local community through farming and trade. Over time, the name evolved through various spellings as families moved across the region and eventually participated in the broader migration patterns of the era. This history reflects the typical experience of English families who maintained deep ties to their local parishes while adapting to the changing social and economic conditions of the seventeenth century.
Birdwell Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Bird + Well
A feathered creature and a natural spring or water source.
This name
BirdwellRefers to a dweller near a spring frequented by birds.
also spelled
Bredwall
Bridwell
Bredwill
Brydwell
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
Suffolk Archives, Parish registers for the county of Suffolk, 1600–1650
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
