A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Birtles family of England.
Reg. 8139 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
parrotEloquence, and travel in distant lands
Colours
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)
“Gu. three parrots reguard. wings disclosed ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Birtles Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Birtles arms are recorded
The Birtles 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 Birtles 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 Birtles Family in England
The family name Birtles is a locational surname, which means it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal nickname. Historical records confirm that members of the Birtles family were established in the city of York by 1620, where they lived and worked during the early seventeenth century. The name itself is derived from Old English roots, likely referring to a "bright hill" or a clearing located near a wooded area. Because surnames were often adopted by people moving from their ancestral villages to larger cities, the presence of the Birtles family in York suggests that their ancestors likely migrated from a rural settlement to seek new opportunities in the urban center. Over time, the spelling of the name became standardized as the family integrated into the social and economic life of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Byrht-hyll
Old English elements meaning bright or illustrious hill.
This name
BirtlesA topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent or bright hill.
also spelled
Birtels
Byrtles
Byrtels
Birtlis
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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parrotEloquence, and travel in distant lands
parrotEloquence, and travel in distant lands
