A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bownes family of England.
Reg. 0580 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fusilTravail and industry
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
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. a fesse betw. three fusils az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bownes Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bownes arms are recorded
The Bownes 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 Bownes 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 Bownes Family in England
The surname Bownes is a locational name that likely originated in Northern England, specifically within the historic county of Yorkshire. During the early 17th century, the family established a notable presence in the city of York, where records confirm members of the Bownes line were living by 1620. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bune," which referred to a reed or a hollow stalk, or perhaps from a local place name describing a settlement near a riverbank. Because people in the 1600s often moved to urban centers for trade and apprenticeship, the Bownes family likely integrated into the bustling merchant and craft guilds that defined York’s economy at the time. By settling in such a significant administrative and religious hub, the family secured a place in the regional history of Northern England, leaving behind a trail of parish registers and legal documents that trace their growth through the following centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bune
Old English term for a reed or a marsh plant.
This name
BownesA topographical name for someone who lived near a patch of reeds or a marshy area.
also spelled
Bownis
Bowniss
Bownas
Related arms
Bownasvariant spelling
Bownysvariant 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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 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
fusilTravail and industry
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fusilTravail and industry
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
