A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Blythe family of England.
Reg. 9453 · 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, betw. three crescents ar”
CornwallBodmyn · Cornwall, c. 1620
Where the Blythe Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Blythe arms are recorded
The Blythe 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 Blythe 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 Blythe Family in England
The surname Blythe is rooted in Old English origins, derived from the word "blithe," which means gentle, kind, or cheerful. Historically, this name was often used as a descriptive nickname for a person with a pleasant or happy disposition. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the rugged landscape of Cornwall. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Blythe family were living in this southwestern region of England during a time of significant social and economic transition. As they settled into these coastal communities, they became part of the local fabric, likely engaging in the traditional trades of mining, farming, or maritime work that defined Cornish life during the Stuart period. Over the generations, the family name persisted as a reflection of their early character and their deep connection to the history of the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bliðe
Old English adjective meaning gentle, kind, or cheerful.
This name
BlytheA descriptive surname for a person with a happy, pleasant, or lighthearted disposition.
also spelled
Blithe
Blith
Related arms
Blighesame arms
Blithvariant spelling
Blithevariant spelling
Beaumontrecorded with Blythe, same area
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, 1958
Cornwall Archives, Parish Register Transcripts of Cornwall, 1620
Hanks, Patrick and Hodges, Flavia, A Dictionary of Surnames, 1988
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
