A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bliss family of England.
Reg. 1341 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ar. on a bend cottised az. three garbs. or”
LeicesterMarket Harborough · Leicester, c. 1620
Where the Bliss Arms Were Recorded
Leicester
Map of England showing where the Bliss arms are recorded
The Bliss arms were recorded in Leicester, c. 1620.
Leicestershire was grazing country, and wool and cattle made steady money rather than spectacular fortunes. Steady money bought manors, and manors are what brought families into the registers.
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 Bliss 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 Leicester.
Origin & History of the Bliss Family in England
The family name Bliss has deep roots in England, with historical records confirming that members of the family were established in Leicester by the early seventeenth century. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive nickname, derived from the Middle English word blisse, which meant joy or gladness. In medieval times, such names were often given to people who possessed a cheerful or optimistic personality. By 1620, the Bliss family was already well-integrated into the local community of Leicester, where they lived as common citizens during a period of significant social and political change. As the family grew, they contributed to the local economy and culture of the region, eventually spreading their influence across the country and across the Atlantic as part of the early waves of migration to the New World.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bliths
Old English word meaning merry, cheerful, or joyous.
This name
BlissA topographic or descriptive surname denoting a person of a happy or carefree disposition.
also spelled
Blysse
Related arms
Rouserecorded with Bliss, same area
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
Leicestershire Record Office, Quarter Sessions Records, 1603–1625
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
