A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Borwick family of England.
Reg. 1469 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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. three bears' heads erased az. muzzled or”
LancasterBorwick · Lancaster, c. 1620
Where the Borwick Arms Were Recorded
Lancaster
Map of England showing where the Borwick arms are recorded
The Borwick arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 Borwick 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Borwick Family in England
The family name Borwick is rooted in the geography of Northern England, specifically deriving from the small village of Borwick located in the county of Lancashire. The name itself is a combination of the Old English words for a fortified place and a farmstead or village. By the early 17th century, the family was well-established in the Lancaster region, as evidenced by records confirming their presence there by 1620. During this era, families often took their surnames from the specific lands they occupied or the nearby settlements where they conducted their daily business. As the Borwick family grew, they became part of the local social fabric of Lancashire, living through a period of significant religious and political change in England. Their history reflects the common experience of families who remained tied to their ancestral landscape for generations, transitioning from local landholders to members of the broader community in the north of England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bur-wic
Old English for a fortified settlement or dwelling place.
This name
BorwickRefers to a person who lived at or near a fortified farmstead or village.
also spelled
Berwick
Barwick
Related arms
Barwickvariant spelling
Berwickvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Place-Names of Lancashire, 1922
Lancashire Archives, Bishop's Transcripts of Burials, Baptisms and Marriages for the Parish of Lancaster, 1620
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 2011
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
