A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Blind family of England.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Lozengy or and sa”
The Blind 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.
Reigning in England when the Blind arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Blind has deep roots in the city of York, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1620. During the seventeenth century, the city of York served as a bustling hub for trade and administration in Northern England, and families like the Blinds were often integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes. The name itself is likely a descriptive surname, a common practice in medieval England where individuals were often identified by a physical trait or a specific characteristic. While the exact origins of the name remain a subject of study, it likely emerged as a nickname that eventually became a permanent family identifier as people moved through the social structures of the time. By the early 1600s, the family had become a recognized part of the York community, contributing to the local economy and the social fabric of one of England’s most historic cities.
Old English word meaning lacking sight or dark and obscure.
