A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brookman family of England.
Reg. 4569 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. four fleurs-de-lis in saltire, saltireways, their heads outwards gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Brookman Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Brookman arms are recorded
The Brookman 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 Brookman 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 Brookman Family in England
The surname Brookman is a locative name, which means it was originally used to identify people who lived near a specific geographical feature. In this case, the name likely described someone who resided near a brook or a small stream. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Brookman family were well-established in the historic city of York. During this period, families often settled in areas where the landscape provided easy access to water for farming, milling, or trade. As the family grew, the name became a permanent way to distinguish these individuals from others in the community. Over time, the spelling transitioned from descriptive phrases into the formal surname that has been passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
broc
Old English term for a badger or a water brook.
This name
BrookmanA person who lived near a stream or worked as a badger hunter.
also spelled
Brookeman
Brokeman
Related arms
Brokemanvariant 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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, York City Archives: House Books, 1620
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fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
