A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Body family of England.
Reg. 2900 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Or, an eagle in full aspect gu. standing on a perch, issuing out of the sinister side ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Body Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Body arms are recorded
The Body 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 Body 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 Body Family in England
The surname Body is rooted in the medieval period and likely originated as a nickname or a descriptive term for a person’s physical stature or character. In Old English, the word *bodig* referred to the trunk of a body, and it was often used to describe someone with a sturdy or notable presence. By the time the family was established in York in 1620, the name had become a fixed hereditary surname passed down through generations. During this era, families in northern England were often deeply connected to the local trade guilds and the agricultural life of the Yorkshire countryside. Members of the Body family during the early seventeenth century would have lived through a time of significant social change, witnessing the growth of York as a regional hub for commerce and religion. Their presence in the city records suggests that they were settled members of the community who participated in the daily civic and economic activities of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Boda
Old English word meaning messenger or herald.
This name
BodyA nickname for a messenger or a personal name derived from Old English terms for a herald.
also spelled
Bodie
Bodey
Boddie
Related arms
Boddie, or Bodyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., 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
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
