A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bryers family of England.
Reg. 2862 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
ermineDignity and rank
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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. three swans sa. or ermines on a canton gu. a falcon volant or”
LancasterWalton · Lancaster, c. 1664
Where the Bryers Arms Were Recorded
Lancaster
Map of England showing where the Bryers arms are recorded
The Bryers arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1664.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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.
Charles II of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of England
1660–1685
Reigning in England when the Bryers 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Bryers Family in England
The family name Bryers is rooted in the historic county of Lancashire, England, where members of the family were firmly established by the year 1664. The name likely functions as a locational or topographical surname, derived from the Middle English word for a briar patch or a thorny thicket. In the seventeenth century, families often took their names from the specific landscapes they farmed or inhabited, suggesting that the early Bryers ancestors were likely people of the land who lived near such overgrown areas. By the time they appear in local records during the mid-1600s, the family had integrated into the social and economic life of the Lancaster region. This period was a time of significant transition in England, and the presence of the Bryers family in official documents indicates they were recognized members of their local community who participated in the legal and parish systems of the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
briar
a thorny or prickly bush or shrub
This name
Bryersa topographic name for someone who lived near a patch of thorny bushes or briars
also spelled
Briers
Brier
Related arms
Briersvariant spelling
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
Ekwall, Eilert, The Place-Names of Lancashire, 1922
Lancashire Archives, Quarter Sessions Records of the County Palatine of Lancaster, 1664
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
ermineDignity and rank
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
ermineDignity and rank
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
