A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bradwell family of England.
Reg. 4462 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
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 bars ar. in chief as many plates”
CheshireCheshire, c. 1620
Where the Bradwell Arms Were Recorded
Cheshire
Map of England showing where the Bradwell arms are recorded
The Bradwell arms were recorded in Cheshire, c. 1620.
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 Bradwell 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 Cheshire.
Origin & History of the Bradwell Family in England
The family name Bradwell is a locational surname, meaning it originated from people who lived in or near a place called Bradwell. The name itself comes from Old English roots, combining the words for broad and well or spring. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Bradwell family were well established in the county of Cheshire. During this period, families often took their names from the specific villages or manors they occupied, which suggests that the earliest ancestors of the Cheshire Bradwells likely held land or worked in a settlement known by that name. As these individuals moved through the region, the name became a permanent marker of their family identity, linking them to the landscape of Northern England for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brad-wielle
Old English for broad stream or wide spring.
This name
BradwellRefers to someone who lived near a wide stream or a broad spring.
also spelled
Bradwill
Bradwall
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, Bishop’s Transcripts of Cheshire Parish Registers, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
