A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bolland family of England.
Reg. 5544 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Gu. on a fesse erm. betw. three bezants as many pegs sa”
SurreyClapham · Surrey, c. 1620
Where the Bolland Arms Were Recorded
Surrey
Map of England showing where the Bolland arms are recorded
The Bolland arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1620.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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 Bolland 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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Bolland Family in England
The surname Bolland is primarily linked to the geography of Northern England, specifically deriving from the ancient district of Bowland in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The name likely originated as a topographical description for someone who lived near the forested hills or the "bow-land" of that region. By the early 17th century, members of the family had migrated south to Surrey, where records confirm their presence by 1620. During this period, families often moved to follow new trade opportunities or to seek employment in the growing agricultural and mercantile sectors surrounding London. This migration pattern reflects the broader movement of people who left their ancestral northern homes to establish new roots in the southern counties during the Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bolla
Old Norse name meaning a round object or a bowl.
This name
BollandA topographical name for someone who lived near a rounded hill or a bowl-shaped valley.
also spelled
Bollan
Bollen
Related arms
Bollenvariant spelling
Butterfieldrecorded with Bolland, same area
Crowderrecorded with Bolland, same area
Dumasrecorded with Bolland, 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
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Surrey History Centre, Parish Registers of Surrey, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
