A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Blakemore family of Wales.
Reg. 7459 · Welsh, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Or, on a fesse betw. three Moors' heads in profile couped sa. as many crescents ar”
MonmouthMonmouth, c. 1647
Where the Blakemore Arms Were Recorded
Monmouth
Map of Wales showing where the Blakemore arms are recorded
The Blakemore arms were recorded in Monmouth, c. 1647.
Monmouthshire lay on the Welsh border, where land was held in return for military service. Families were expected to arm and to fight, and fighting households carried shields of their own.
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 Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Wales when the Blakemore arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Monmouth.
Origin & History of the Blakemore Family in Wales
The surname Blakemore is a topographic name that originated in England, specifically referring to people who lived near a dark or black moor. The name is composed of the Old English words blæc, meaning black, and mōr, meaning a stretch of open, uncultivated land. By the middle of the seventeenth century, members of the family had established a notable presence in the Welsh border town of Monmouth. Records from 1647 highlight their involvement in the local community during a period of significant political unrest in Britain. As the family settled in this region, they became part of the local history of Monmouthshire, where the name persisted through generations of farmers, tradespeople, and community members. This transition from a descriptive label for a landscape feature to a formal family name reflects the common way many English surnames were formed during the Middle Ages.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Blaec Mor
Old English words for black or dark and a moor or marsh.
This name
BlakemoreRefers to a person who lived near a dark, desolate, or black-colored moorland.
also spelled
Blackmore
Blakmoor
Blakmur
Related arms
Blackmoresame arms
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
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, Charles I, 1647
Gwent Archives, Monmouth Borough Records, 1647
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
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
