A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Branche family of England.
Reg. 0430 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Gu. a leopard's head jessant-de-lis or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Branche Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Branche arms are recorded
The Branche 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 Branche 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 Branche Family in England
The family name Branche has deep roots that trace back to the medieval period in England. The name is derived from the Old French word branche, which was often used as a descriptive nickname for a person who lived near a prominent tree or a specific branch of a river. By the early seventeenth century, members of the Branche family were well established in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 show that these individuals were integrated into the local community, likely working in the trades or commerce that defined the city at that time. As York was a major center for northern English life, the presence of the family there suggests they were part of the stable middle class that helped maintain the city’s economy and social structure during the reign of King James I.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Branca
Latin term meaning a claw, paw, or branch.
This name
BrancheA topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent tree branch or a forest.
also spelled
Braunch
Braunche
Related arms
Brainch, or Branchvariant spelling
Braunchvariant spelling
Braunchevariant spelling
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
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains’ Accounts, 1620
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
