A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bradby family of England.
Reg. 9252 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
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. a saltire betw. four millrinds sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bradby Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bradby arms are recorded
The Bradby 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 Bradby 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 Bradby Family in England
The surname Bradby is a locative name, meaning it likely originated from a specific place name in England. The name is composed of two Old English elements. The first part, "brad," means broad, and the second part, "by," refers to a farmstead or a settlement. This suggests that the earliest members of the family were people who lived near a wide field or a large village. By the year 1620, records confirm that the family was well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and religious life in Northern England. Families living there at the time often worked in skilled crafts or local commerce. As the family grew, they likely moved through the surrounding regions of Yorkshire, leaving behind a trail of parish records that document their daily lives, marriages, and contributions to the local community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brad-by
Broad settlement or wide farmstead derived from Old English and Old Norse.
This name
BradbyRefers to an individual who resided at a wide or expansive village or farmstead.
also spelled
Bradbie
Bradbey
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Archives: Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
