A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brownsword family of England.
Reg. 1811 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
swordJustice, and military honour
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
caltrapA warning to enemies of a well-defended position
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Vert a sword in bend ar. hilt and pomel or, betw. two ducal coronets of the last, on a chief of the second three caltraps gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Brownsword Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Brownsword arms are recorded
The Brownsword 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 Brownsword 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 Brownsword Family in England
The surname Brownsword is a descriptive name that likely originated in medieval England to identify a person who carried a specific type of weapon. It is composed of the words brown and sword, which suggests that an ancestor may have been a skilled swordsmith or a soldier known for wielding a blade with a distinctively dark or burnished appearance. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families living there were often involved in the local guilds or the merchant community. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of northern England, moving through the changing landscapes of the seventeenth century while maintaining their connection to the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brun-sweord
Old English elements meaning brown or dark and a sword or weapon.
This name
BrownswordAn occupational name for a swordsmith or a warrior who carried a dark-colored blade.
also spelled
Brounsword
Brownswurd
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 Probate Records, 1620
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
swordJustice, and military honour
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
caltrapA warning to enemies of a well-defended position
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
swordJustice, and military honour
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
caltrapA warning to enemies of a well-defended position
