A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Broad family of England.
Reg. 6967 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 pale sa. in fesse three lozenges counterchanged”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Broad Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Broad arms are recorded
The Broad 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 Broad 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 Broad Family in England
The surname Broad is a descriptive name that likely originated in England as a nickname for a person of large physical stature or a broad build. In the early seventeenth century, the family established a notable presence in the historic city of York, where records confirm members were living by 1620. During this era, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families like the Broads often worked as skilled laborers, merchants, or craftsmen within the city walls. Because surnames were still becoming fixed in their spelling during this period, the name sometimes appeared in local documents as Brode or Broade before settling into its modern form. These early residents were part of the social fabric of Northern England, contributing to the local economy and community life long before the name spread to other parts of the country and eventually overseas.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
brad
Old English term referring to something wide or broad in extent.
This name
BroadA topographical name for someone who lived near a wide stretch of land or road.
also spelled
Brod
Brode
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
