A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bragdon family of England.
Reg. 2150 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 lion pass. az. betw. three fleurs-de-lis gu”
Englandc. 1568
Where the Bragdon Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bragdon arms are recorded
The Bragdon arms were recorded in England, c. 1568.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Bragdon 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 Bragdon Family in England
The Bragdon family name is rooted in the history of northern England, with records confirming their presence in the town of York as early as 1568. The name is believed to be locational in origin, likely derived from a specific place or small settlement that has since faded from modern maps. During the sixteenth century, the Bragdons were part of the local community in Yorkshire, where they lived as yeomen or tradespeople during a period of significant social change. As the family grew, some members eventually migrated toward the coast and later across the Atlantic to the American colonies. This movement was typical of families seeking new opportunities in the seventeenth century, and the name became firmly established in the coastal regions of Maine. By tracing these early roots, we see a family that transitioned from provincial life in England to becoming early settlers in the New World.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brage-dun
A hill or valley associated with the Old English name Brage.
This name
BragdonDerived from a topographic location referring to a hill or settlement belonging to Brage.
also spelled
Bragden
Bragdin
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Banks, Charles Edward. History of York, Maine. 1931
York Minster Archives. Yorkshire Parish Registers. 1568
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
