A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brixton family of England.
Reg. 6889 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
horseReadiness to serve king and country
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Erm. on a canton sa. a horse's head couped ar. with bit and reins gu”
DevonshireDevonshire, c. 1620
Where the Brixton Arms Were Recorded
Devonshire
Map of England showing where the Brixton arms are recorded
The Brixton arms were recorded in Devonshire, c. 1620.
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 Brixton 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 Devonshire.
Origin & History of the Brixton Family in England
The family name Brixton originates from the southwestern region of England, specifically within the county of Devonshire. Historical evidence confirms that members of the family were well-established in this area by the year 1620. The name itself is likely locative, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place or settlement known as Brixton. In Old English, names of this structure often combined a personal name with the word tun, which referred to an enclosed piece of land or a small village. Families living in or near these rural settlements frequently adopted the location as their surname to distinguish themselves from others in the community. By the early seventeenth century, the Brixton family was part of the local social fabric in Devonshire, living through a period of significant agricultural and economic change in the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bricstune
Old English elements meaning bridge and settlement or enclosure.
This name
BrixtonRefers to a person who lived near a bridge or a settlement by a bridge.
also spelled
Bryxton
Brixston
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Gover, J.E.B., Mawer, A., and Stenton, F.M., The Place-Names of Devon, 1931
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Exchequer: King's Remembrancer: Lay Subsidy Rolls, E 179
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
horseReadiness to serve king and country
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
horseReadiness to serve king and country
