A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brim family of England.
Reg. 1799 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 fesse or, betw. six martlets ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Brim Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Brim arms are recorded
The Brim arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Brim 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 England.
Origin & History of the Brim Family in England
The family name Brim has deep roots tied to the historic city of York, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religious activity, and families like the Brims were often integrated into the local merchant or craft guilds that defined the city’s economy. The name itself likely originated as a topographical surname, which was a common way to identify people based on the landscape where they resided. In Old English, the word brim referred to the edge or the bank of a body of water, suggesting that the earliest ancestors of the family may have settled near a river or a coastal area. As these individuals moved through the streets of York, their name served as a link to the natural geography of their home, marking them as people of the water’s edge long before they established their presence in the city’s official records.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brym
Old English term referring to a bank, edge, or shore.
This name
BrimA topographic name for someone who lived near the edge of a river or stream.
also spelled
Brym
Bryme
Brymes
Related arms
Brymevariant spelling
Brymesvariant 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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 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.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
