Map of England showing where the Brakes arms are recorded
The Brakes 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 Brakes 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 Brakes Family in England
The surname Brakes is rooted in the landscape of northern England, where it first appeared as a descriptive name for people living near thickets or patches of ferns. In the local dialect of the time, a "brake" referred to a dense area of brushwood or a clearing in the forest. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Brakes family were well-established residents of York. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religion, and families with this name likely worked in agriculture or as skilled laborers within the city walls. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Yorkshire, contributing to the local economy and the development of the region throughout the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bræc
Old English word for a thicket, brushwood, or broken ground.
This name
BrakesA topographic name for someone who lived near a thicket or area of overgrown brush.
also spelled
Brykeis
Brykis
Brykies
Brikes
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, 1958
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
