A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bruse family of England.
Reg. 9859 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Ar. a lion ramp. az”
KentKent, c. 1620
Where the Bruse Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Bruse arms are recorded
The Bruse arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Bruse 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Bruse Family in England
The family name Bruse has deep roots in the English county of Kent, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. During this period, Kent was a vital region for trade and agriculture, often serving as a gateway for people moving between the European continent and London. Families like the Bruses were typically part of the local community of landowners or skilled tradespeople who helped shape the rural economy of the area. The name itself likely evolved from older linguistic traditions, potentially originating as a descriptive term or a locational identifier used to distinguish specific households within their parish. By the seventeenth century, the family was well-established in the region, contributing to the local social fabric through their daily work and their presence in church and civil registers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bruis
A place name referring to the town of Brix in Normandy.
This name
BruseDerived from a locational surname indicating origin from the French town of Brix.
also spelled
Bruze
Bruce
Bruss
Related arms
Breusevariant spelling
Brewsevariant spelling
Brucevariant spelling
Brussvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Everitt, Alan, The Community of Kent and the Great Rebellion 1640-1660, 1966
Kent Archives, Archdeaconry of Canterbury Wills and Administrations, PRC 32
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
