A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brans family of England.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Barry of twelve or and az”
The Brans 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.
Reigning in England when the Brans arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Brans carries a history rooted in the northern landscape of England, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of York as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, York served as a vital hub for trade and administration, providing a stable environment for families to establish their livelihoods and local influence. The name itself likely evolved from older Germanic or Old English roots, possibly functioning as a descriptive surname that identified an individual by their physical traits or their specific place of residence. As the family became integrated into the social fabric of York, they participated in the daily life of a growing urban center, contributing to the local economy and community development. By settling in such a historically significant city, the early members of the Brans family helped define their presence in the region during a time of great transition in English history.
Old Norse term referring to a sword or a burning torch.
