A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brooksby family of England.
Reg. 5529 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Barry wavy of six ar. and sa. a canton gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Brooksby Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Brooksby arms are recorded
The Brooksby 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 Brooksby 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 Brooksby Family in England
The surname Brooksby is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name is derived from the village of Brooksby in Leicestershire, England, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Brochesbi. The name itself comes from a combination of Old Norse and Old English roots, likely referring to a farm or settlement belonging to a man named Brok. By the early 17th century, members of the family had migrated from their ancestral roots in the Midlands to the historic city of York. Records confirm their presence in York by 1620, where they integrated into the local community during a period of significant urban growth. This transition from a rural village identity to an established urban presence highlights the mobility of families in early modern England as they sought new opportunities in major trade centers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brocc and byr
Old Norse and Old English terms for badger and farmstead or village.
This name
BrooksbyA habitational name referring to a farmstead or village associated with a person named Brocc.
also spelled
Brookesby
Brokesby
Related arms
Brokesbyvariant spelling
Brookesbyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. York Diocesan Probate Records
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cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
