A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bish family of England.
Reg. 3458 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Or, a chev. betw. three roses gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bish Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bish arms are recorded
The Bish 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 Bish 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 Bish Family in England
The family name Bish has deep roots in the historic city of York, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a shortened form of a longer occupational title, reflecting the linguistic shifts common in Northern England during the Middle Ages. Families in York during the early seventeenth century often lived near the city walls or within the bustling merchant districts, where they participated in the local trade and civic life of the region. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Yorkshire, contributing to the local economy and community traditions that defined life in a major northern hub. By settling in such a prominent city, the early Bish family members were positioned to witness and participate in the significant historical changes that shaped England throughout the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Biscop
Old English term for a bishop or overseer.
This name
BishAn occupational surname originally denoting a servant of a bishop or someone with a bishop-like demeanor.
also spelled
Byshe
Byssh
Bisshe
Related arms
Bisshevariant spelling
Byshevariant 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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
