A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Broke family of England.
Reg. 4326 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
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)
“Chequy ar. and sa”
SalopMadeley Court · Salop, c. 1620
Where the Broke Arms Were Recorded
Salop
Map of England showing where the Broke arms are recorded
The Broke arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1620.
Shropshire lay on the Welsh border, and border country needed men who could fight. Families held their land in return for service, and service in arms is what a coat of arms was originally for.
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 Broke 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 Salop.
Origin & History of the Broke Family in England
The surname Broke is rooted in the Old English word "broc," which originally referred to a person who lived near a brook or a marshy area. During the medieval period, surnames often identified people by their surroundings, making this a classic topographical name. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Salop, also known as Shropshire. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Broke family were active landowners and participants in the local community during this era. As the family grew, they became deeply integrated into the social and economic life of the region, helping to shape the history of the English West Midlands through their agricultural and civic contributions.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
broc
Old English word for a badger or a broken piece of land.
This name
BrokeA topographic name for someone who lived near a brook or a broken piece of land.
also spelled
Brocke
Brook
Brookes
Brooks
Related arms
Brockevariant spelling
Brookvariant spelling
Brookesvariant spelling
Brooksvariant 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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
