A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Branston family of England.
Reg. 5039 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. on a fesse sa. three bezants”
DerbyshireDerbyshire, c. 1620
Where the Branston Arms Were Recorded
Derbyshire
Map of England showing where the Branston arms are recorded
The Branston arms were recorded in Derbyshire, 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 Branston 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 Derbyshire.
Origin & History of the Branston Family in England
The family name Branston originates from Old English roots, likely combining the name Brand with the word tun, which refers to a farmstead or an enclosed settlement. This suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or landholders who identified their home by a specific landmark or family connection. By the year 1620, records confirm that the family was firmly established in the county of Derbyshire. During this period, families in the region often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities where they relied on agriculture and local trade to survive. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the English Midlands, living through a time of significant religious and political change that shaped the lives of common people across the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brant-tun
Old English for a steep slope or hill and an enclosed settlement.
This name
BranstonRefers to a person who lived near a settlement located on a steep hill.
also spelled
Branstoun
Related arms
Braunstonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Derbyshire Record Office, Quarter Sessions 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.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
