A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bracken family of Ireland.
Reg. 1454 · Irish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. fretty ar. semée of plates”
Irelandc. 1645
Where the Bracken Arms Were Recorded
Dublin
Map of Ireland showing where the Bracken arms are recorded
The Bracken arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Bracken arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Bracken Family in Ireland
The surname Bracken is primarily of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Ó Breacáin, which translates to descendant of the speckled one. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family was well-established in the Dublin area, as evidenced by records from 1645. During this period, the name was often associated with families living in the midlands and the eastern coastal regions of Ireland. The name likely evolved from a descriptive nickname for an ancestor, reflecting the common practice of identifying individuals by their physical traits or personal characteristics. As the family grew, they became integrated into the social and economic life of Dublin, moving from rural roots into the developing urban landscape of the city during a time of significant political change in Ireland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brach
Old Irish word for a fern or bracken plant.
This name
BrackenDerived from a topographical descriptor for someone who lived near a patch of ferns.
also spelled
Brackin
Brackyn
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
Woulfe, Patrick, Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames, 1923
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Dublin, 1654–1656
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
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
