A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boddington family of England.
Reg. 4246 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Sa. on a chief ar. semée of crosses crosslet fitchée gu. a demi lion issuant of the last”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Boddington Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Boddington arms are recorded
The Boddington 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Boddington 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 England.
Origin & History of the Boddington Family in England
The name Boddington is a locational surname, which means it originally identified people by the village or town where they lived. It is derived from the Old English words for a settlement belonging to the followers of a man named Boda. By the early 17th century, members of the family were firmly established in the historic city of York. Records confirm their presence there by 1620, a time when York was a bustling center of trade and religious life in Northern England. Families with this name often worked as skilled tradespeople or merchants, contributing to the local economy of the region. Over time, the family spread from these northern roots to other parts of the country, carrying the name forward through generations of local history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Boda
An Old English personal name derived from the word for messenger.
This name
BoddingtonSettlement or farmstead belonging to the people of a man named Boda.
also spelled
Bodintone
Boddyngton
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, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
