Map of England showing where the Brothers arms are recorded
The Brothers 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 Brothers 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 Brothers Family in England
The surname Brothers is classified as a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person by their relationship to a specific ancestor. In the context of early English naming customs, it likely began as a descriptive nickname or a reference to a familial bond, eventually becoming a fixed hereditary surname as record-keeping became more formal. By the year 1620, historical evidence confirms that members of the Brothers family were established in the city of York. During this period, York served as a major northern hub for trade and administration, suggesting that the family was likely integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes of the city. As these individuals moved through the parish systems of the seventeenth century, their name became permanently recorded in local registers, marking their transition from a descriptive term into a solidified family identity that persisted through generations of northern English life.
Brothers Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Brothor
Old English term for a male sibling or kinsman.
This name
BrothersA patronymic or occupational surname originally denoting a brother or a member of a religious brotherhood.
also spelled
Brothir
Brothyr
Brothare
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. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Records: Parish Registers of York, 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
ermineDignity and rank
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ermineDignity and rank
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
