A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brooksbank family of England.
Reg. 8117 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Az. two bars wavy ar. within a bordure or”
YorkEland · York, c. 1620
Where the Brooksbank Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Brooksbank arms are recorded
The Brooksbank arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Brooksbank 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 York.
Origin & History of the Brooksbank Family in England
The surname Brooksbank is a topographical name, meaning it was originally used to describe someone who lived near a stream or a brook. The name is rooted in the Old English words "broc," meaning brook, and "bank," referring to the slope or edge of the water. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of York. Records confirm that members of the Brooksbank family were living and working in this historic region by 1620. During this era, families with this name were often involved in the local trade and civic life of Northern England. Because the name is tied to the natural landscape, it suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or laborers who settled along the banks of local waterways before moving into urban centers like York to pursue new opportunities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
broc and banc
Old English for badger and a shelf or bank of earth.
This name
BrooksbankRefers to someone who lived near a bank or slope frequented by badgers.
also spelled
Brookbank
Brookesbank
Brokebank
Related arms
Brookbankvariant 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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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bordureA difference between branches of one family
bordureA difference between branches of one family
