A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bracegirdle family of England.
Reg. 3068 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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. two chev. arched, couched, and fretted ar”
ChesterBracegirdle Green · Chester, c. 1620
Where the Bracegirdle Arms Were Recorded
Chester
Map of England showing where the Bracegirdle arms are recorded
The Bracegirdle arms were recorded in Chester, c. 1620.
Cheshire was governed apart from the rest of England for much of its history, with its own courts and its own gentry. That separateness bred a strong local landed class, and landed families 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 Bracegirdle 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 Chester.
Origin & History of the Bracegirdle Family in England
The surname Bracegirdle is a descriptive name that likely originated in medieval England to identify a person who made or sold belts. In the Middle Ages, a "girdle" was a common term for a belt or a cord worn around the waist to secure a tunic. By adding the prefix "brace," the name suggests someone who crafted sturdy or supportive belts. While the family name has roots in various parts of Northern England, records confirm that members of the Bracegirdle family were well-established in the city of Chester by 1620. During this period, Chester was a bustling center of trade and commerce. Families like the Bracegirdles often played active roles in the local economy, serving as merchants, skilled tradespeople, or civic officials who helped shape the daily life of the city.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brace-girdle
To fasten or secure a belt or sash tightly.
This name
BracegirdleAn occupational name for someone who made or sold belts and girdles.
also spelled
Bracegirdel
Bracegirdill
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
Cheshire Archives and Local Studies, Chester City Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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