A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brackenbury family of England.
Reg. 2063 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. three chev. interlaced in base sa”
DurhamSellaby · Durham, c. 1620
Where the Brackenbury Arms Were Recorded
Durham
Map of England showing where the Brackenbury arms are recorded
The Brackenbury arms were recorded in Durham, c. 1620.
Durham was governed by its bishop rather than the crown for most of its history, with its own courts and its own landed class. That separate world produced a tight group of families, nearly all of whom held 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 Brackenbury 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 Durham.
Origin & History of the Brackenbury Family in England
The surname Brackenbury is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or personal trait. It is derived from the Old English words "bracken," which refers to a type of fern, and "burh," which describes a fortified settlement or hill fort. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family lived near a prominent, fern-covered fortification. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that the family had established a firm presence in the County of Durham. During this period, the family was deeply integrated into the local community, often appearing in parish registers and land records as they managed their estates and participated in the social life of Northern England. Their long-standing residence in this region helped solidify the name as a recognized part of the local history of Durham.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
braken and burh
Old English for fern or bracken and a fortified settlement or town.
This name
BrackenburyA person who lived near a fortified place overgrown with ferns.
also spelled
Brackenbery
Brakenbury
Related arms
Brakenburyvariant spelling
Marshallrecorded with Brackenbury, same area
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
Durham County Record Office, Durham Bishop’s Transcripts, 1620
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