A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brownlow family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0209 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fusilTravail and industry
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti d'or et d'arg.; à un écusson de sa., br. sur le parti et acc. de huit martinets du même, rangés en orle. C.: un lévrier arrêté de gu., soutenu d'un chapeau de tournoi d'azur, retr. d'herm. T.: à dextre un lévrier d'arg., coll. d'une guirlande de trèfles de sin.; à sen. un montagnard écossais en uniforme, avec son fusil, le tout au nat. D.: ESSE QUAM VIDERI.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Brownlow Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Brownlow arms are recorded
The Brownlow arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Brownlow arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Brownlow Family in France
The history of the Brownlow name in France is deeply tied to the coastal region of Bretagne, where records confirm the family was established by 1725. While the name itself has roots in older Germanic and English naming traditions, its presence in this French province suggests a history of migration and integration into local society. During the early eighteenth century, families in Bretagne often lived in tight-knit communities centered around maritime trade and local agriculture. The Brownlows likely adapted to the social structures of the region by forming connections with neighboring families and participating in the local parish life. By settling in this area, the family became part of the distinct cultural landscape of western France, blending their ancestral identity with the traditions of the Breton people. This era marked a period of transition where the family name became a permanent fixture in the local civil and religious registers of the province.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Per pale or and ar. an escutcheon within an orle of martlets sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Brownlow Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Brownlow arms are recorded
The Brownlow 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 France when the Brownlow 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 Brownlow Family in England
The surname Brownlow originates from the northern regions of England, specifically drawing its roots from the Old English words for a brown hill or a brownish clearing. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. During this period, York served as a vital hub for trade and administration in the north, and families like the Brownlows were often integrated into the local merchant classes or the growing professional ranks of the city. As the family settled into the urban landscape of York by 1620, they became part of the social fabric that defined northern English life before the onset of the Civil War. Their early history reflects the broader movement of families who transitioned from rural land-based origins to the developing economic centers of English society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brun
Derived from the Germanic word for the color brown.
This name
BrownlowA topographical or descriptive name referring to someone with a brown complexion or hair.
also spelled
Brownloe
Brownlo
Brounlow
Related arms
Bistonrecorded with Brownlow, same area
Custrecorded with Brownlow, same area
Eyrerecorded with Brownlow, same area
Haselwoodrecorded with Brownlow, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Ogée, Jean, Dictionnaire historique et géographique de la province de Bretagne, 1778
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fusilTravail and industry
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fusilTravail and industry
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
