Map of England showing where the Briggs arms are recorded
The Briggs arms were recorded in Hants, c. 1620.
Hampshire had the naval dockyards at Portsmouth on one side and good farmland on the other. Sea money and land money both bought estates, and an estate was what brought a family its 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 Briggs 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 Hants.
Origin & History of the Briggs Family in England
The surname Briggs is a topographical name, meaning it was originally given to people who lived near a bridge or a prominent causeway. In Old English, the word "brycg" referred to these structures, and over time, the name evolved into its modern spelling as families became associated with specific locations. By the early 17th century, the name was well-established across various English counties, including Hampshire, where records confirm members of the family were present by 1620. During this period, the Briggs family were typically part of the yeoman or merchant classes, often working as landowners or tradespeople who played active roles in their local parishes. As these families grew, they moved throughout the English countryside, carrying the name into new regions and helping to shape the social fabric of the communities they joined.
Briggs Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Brycg
Old English word meaning bridge or a raised causeway.
This name
BriggsA topographic surname for someone who lived near a bridge or a crossing point.
also spelled
Brigges
Bryggs
Brygges
Brig
Brige
Related arms
Brigvariant spelling
Brigevariant spelling
Briggevariant spelling
Briggesvariant 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
Hampshire Archives, Bishop's Transcripts of Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bordureA difference between branches of one family
cinquefoilHope and joy
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bordureA difference between branches of one family
cinquefoilHope and joy
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
