A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bown family of England.
Reg. 5636 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Az. on a cross or, a rose gu. stalked and leaved vert”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bown Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bown arms are recorded
The Bown 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 Bown 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 Bown Family in England
The surname Bown has deep roots in the historic city of York, where records confirm family members were well-established by the year 1620. The name is generally considered a topographical or occupational surname, likely originating from the Old English word "boga," which refers to a bow or a curved shape. In the medieval period, such names were often given to individuals who lived near a bend in a river or to those who worked as skilled bowyers. By the early 17th century, the Bown family in York was part of a growing urban population that participated in the city's vibrant trade and civic life. As the family settled into the region, they contributed to the local economy and social fabric of Northern England, leaving behind a legacy that is still reflected in parish registers and local administrative documents from that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
boga
Old Norse term for a bow or archer.
This name
BownAn occupational name for a maker of bows or a skilled archer.
also spelled
Boun
Boune
Related arms
Bone, or Bonnvariant spelling
Bonn, or Bounvariant spelling
Bounvariant spelling
Bounn, or Bounvariant spelling
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.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
