A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brigges family of England.
Reg. 2520 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. a fleur-de-lis betw. three inescutcheons gu. each charged with a bend of the field”
WestmorelandWestmoreland, c. 1620
Where the Brigges Arms Were Recorded
Westmoreland
Map of England showing where the Brigges arms are recorded
The Brigges arms were recorded in Westmoreland, c. 1620.
Westmorland was fell country in the north-west, farmed in small holdings by families who stayed put. Land changed hands rarely there, and families who held on for generations ended up with 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 Brigges 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 Westmoreland.
Origin & History of the Brigges Family in England
The surname Brigges is a topographical name that originated in Northern England, specifically within the rugged landscapes of Westmorland. It is derived from the Middle English word brigge, which means a bridge. Families who adopted this name likely lived near a prominent bridge or a crossing point over a river, which served as a vital landmark in their local community. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Brigges family were well-established in this region. During this period, families often took their names from the natural features of the land they worked or inhabited. This connection to the local geography suggests that the early Brigges ancestors were deeply rooted in the rural life of the Westmorland countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brycg
Old English word for a bridge or a raised causeway.
This name
BriggesA topographical surname for someone who lived near a bridge or a crossing point.
also spelled
Briggs
Brygges
Bryggs
Brig
Brige
Related arms
Brigvariant spelling
Brigevariant spelling
Briggsvariant spelling
Brygge, or Briggsvariant 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., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
