Map of England showing where the Bradstock arms are recorded
The Bradstock arms were recorded in Gloucester, c. 1620.
Gloucestershire had good farmland, a cloth trade in its valleys and a river carrying goods to Bristol. All three made money, and money bought the estates that brought arms with them.
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 Bradstock 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 Gloucester.
Origin & History of the Bradstock Family in England
The surname Bradstock is a locative name, meaning it likely originated from a specific place name rather than a trade or personal nickname. In Old English, the name is derived from the words "brad," meaning broad, and "stoc," which refers to a place, a settlement, or a tree stump used as a marker. This suggests that the earliest members of the family lived near a wide clearing or a prominent landmark in the landscape. By the year 1620, records confirm that the Bradstock family was well-established in the city of Gloucester. During this period, Gloucester was a bustling center of trade and religion, and families living there were often involved in the local cloth industry or municipal governance. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, leaving behind a legacy tied to the geography of the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brad-stoc
Old English for broad or wide and a tree trunk or post.
This name
BradstockRefers to someone who lived near a wide tree stump or a prominent wooden post.
also spelled
Bradstun
Bradstoun
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
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucester City Council Records: Burgess Rolls and Freemen of the City, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
