A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brightman family of England.
Reg. 0444 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. a chev. betw. three lions ramp. ar. (another, or)”
SurreyParis Garden · Surrey, c. 1620
Where the Brightman Arms Were Recorded
Surrey
Map of England showing where the Brightman arms are recorded
The Brightman arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1620.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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 Brightman 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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Brightman Family in England
The surname Brightman is an English locative and descriptive name that likely originated as a nickname for a person with a cheerful or radiant disposition. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Surrey, where members were documented as active participants in local community life by 1620. During this era, the name was often associated with individuals who held positions of modest standing, such as yeomen farmers or tradespeople, who were essential to the rural economy of southern England. As the family grew, they became deeply integrated into the parish systems of the region, leaving behind records of their births, marriages, and property holdings in local church registers. These early Brightmans lived through a period of significant social change, eventually expanding their influence as they moved across the English countryside and eventually toward the growing urban centers of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Beorhtmann
Old English words for bright or shining and man or person.
This name
BrightmanA descriptive occupational or nickname referring to a bright, intelligent, or illustrious individual.
also spelled
Bryghtman
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
Surrey History Centre, Parish Registers of Surrey, 1620
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
