A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bowerbank family of England.
Reg. 3871 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. two torteaux betw. three mullets in fesse az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bowerbank Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bowerbank arms are recorded
The Bowerbank 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 Bowerbank 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 Bowerbank Family in England
The surname Bowerbank is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or personal characteristic. The name is composed of two Old English elements: "bower," which referred to a private room or a cottage, and "bank," which described a slope or the rising ground beside a river. This suggests that the first people to carry the name likely lived near a small dwelling situated on a hillside or a riverbank. By 1620, records confirm that members of the Bowerbank family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, families in northern England often adopted surnames based on the geography of their homesteads to distinguish themselves from neighbors. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of York, contributing to the city's long history as a center of trade and administration in the north.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Burh-banc
Old English for a fortified settlement or bank near a dwelling.
This name
BowerbankRefers to someone who lived near a fortified embankment or a hillside dwelling.
also spelled
Bowerbanck
Bowerbancke
Bourbank
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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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.
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
