A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Broadhurst family of England.
Reg. 9697 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 ar. surmounted by a chev. az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Broadhurst Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Broadhurst arms are recorded
The Broadhurst 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 Broadhurst 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 Broadhurst Family in England
The surname Broadhurst is a classic example of a locative name, which means it was originally derived from the specific landscape where a family lived. The name is composed of two Old English words: "brad," meaning broad or wide, and "hyrst," which refers to a wooded hill or a thicket. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name likely resided near a prominent, wide stretch of forest or a notable wooded ridge. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Broadhurst family were well-established in the historic city of York. During this period, families often took their names from the geography of their local parish, and the presence of the Broadhursts in Northern England indicates deep roots in the rural and semi-rural landscapes surrounding the city. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the development of the region through their presence in the trade and community life of seventeenth-century Yorkshire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
brad + hyrst
Old English for broad or wide and a wooded hill or grove.
This name
BroadhurstRefers to someone who lived near a wide or expansive wooded hill.
also spelled
Brodhurst
Broadhirst
Brodhirst
Related arms
Brodhurstvariant spelling
Simpsonrecorded with Broadhurst, same area
Walmsleyrecorded with Broadhurst, same area
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Account Rolls, 1620
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
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
