A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Blenman family of England.
Reg. 5799 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Per chev. invected az. and ar. in chief three lozenges of the second, in base a bee volant ppr”
SomersetCroscombe · Somerset, c. 1620
Where the Blenman Arms Were Recorded
Somerset
Map of England showing where the Blenman arms are recorded
The Blenman arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Blenman 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 Somerset.
Origin & History of the Blenman Family in England
The surname Blenman is deeply rooted in the history of the West Country of England, with records confirming the family was well-established in the county of Somerset by the year 1620. The name is considered a locational surname, which suggests that the earliest ancestors likely took their name from a specific place, farm, or small settlement in the region. During the early seventeenth century, members of the Blenman family were active participants in the local economy and social life of Somerset, often appearing in parish registers and legal documents of the era. As the century progressed, the family expanded their influence, with some members eventually migrating across the Atlantic to the Caribbean and North America to pursue new opportunities in trade and law. This movement helped spread the name far beyond its original Somerset origins, turning a local family identity into one that spanned across the British Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Blen-maen
Derived from the Cornish words for hill and stone.
This name
BlenmanA topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent stony hill.
also spelled
Blenmon
Related arms
Bergerecorded with Blenman, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
The National Archives, Kew, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, 1384–1858
Somerset Archives and Local Studies, Bishop’s Transcripts of Parish Registers for the Diocese of Bath and Wells
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain, 1890
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
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
