A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bligh family of England.
Reg. 3100 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Az. a griffin segreant or, armed gu. betw. six crescents ar”
CornwallCornwall, c. 1620
Where the Bligh Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Bligh arms are recorded
The Bligh arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms with it.
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 Bligh 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 Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Bligh Family in England
The surname Bligh is deeply rooted in the rugged landscape of Cornwall, where the family established a strong presence by the early seventeenth century. Etymologists often link the name to the Middle English word blithe, which carried meanings of being cheerful, gentle, or kind. In the context of early Cornish society, names were frequently derived from personal traits or local nicknames, suggesting that the original bearers were known for their pleasant dispositions. By 1620, the Bligh family was well-integrated into the social fabric of the region, participating in the local agricultural and maritime life that defined the Cornish coast. Over the following generations, the family expanded across the county, leaving behind a legacy tied to the distinct culture and history of southwestern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
blithe
Old English word meaning merry, cheerful, or joyous.
This name
BlighA nickname for a person with a happy, lighthearted, or carefree disposition.
also spelled
Blygh
Blig
Bly
Blyghe
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Gover, J. E. B., Mawer, A., and Stenton, F. M., The Place-Names of Cornwall, 1948
Hanks, Patrick and Hodges, Flavia, A Dictionary of Surnames, 1988
Cornwall Archives, Parish Registers of St. Tudy and Bodmin, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
