A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bredwell family of England.
Reg. 5134 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 goat saliant ar. attired or”
SuffolkSuffolk, c. 1620
Where the Bredwell Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Bredwell arms are recorded
The Bredwell arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Bredwell 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Bredwell Family in England
The surname Bredwell is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, where it likely originated as a topographical name for a family living near a specific well or spring. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Suffolk. In 1620, records indicate that members of the Bredwell family were settled within this region, which was a hub of agricultural activity and trade at the time. Life in Suffolk during this era was defined by the local parish system, where families were deeply connected to their village churches and the surrounding farmland. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of East Anglia, contributing to the local economy through farming and skilled craftsmanship. Their history reflects the broader movement of English families who built stable lives in rural communities long before the industrial changes of later centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bradwell
A broad spring or stream located near a wide meadow.
This name
BredwellDerived from a locational surname referring to someone living near a wide, expansive water source.
also spelled
Bredwall
Bridwell
Bredwill
Brydwell
Related arms
Lampetsimilar arms
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Copinger, Walter Arthur, The Manors of Suffolk: Notes on their History and Devolution, 1905
Suffolk Archives, Parish Registers of Suffolk, 1620
Tingey, John C., Records of the City of Norwich, 1906
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goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
