A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Buckland family of England.
Reg. 1787 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. a fesse sa. fretty or, betw. three lions ramp. gu”
DevonshireDevonshire, c. 1620
Where the Buckland Arms Were Recorded
Devonshire
Map of England showing where the Buckland arms are recorded
The Buckland arms were recorded in Devonshire, c. 1620.
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 Buckland 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 Devonshire.
Origin & History of the Buckland Family in England
The surname Buckland is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name is derived from the Old English words "boc," meaning a book or a charter, and "land," referring to territory. Historically, a "bookland" was a specific type of land held by a written legal document or charter rather than by traditional oral custom. By the time the family was firmly established in Devonshire in 1620, the name had become a stable identifier for those who lived on or managed these chartered estates. The landscape of Devonshire, with its rolling hills and ancient agricultural boundaries, provided the perfect setting for these families to settle and grow. Over generations, the name transitioned from a description of land tenure into a permanent family identity that persisted long after the original legal meaning of the term faded from common use.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
boc-land
Old English term for land held by a written charter or deed.
This name
BucklandRefers to a person who lived on or held land granted by a royal charter.
also spelled
Bucklond
Bucklend
Related arms
Bassettrecorded with Buckland, same area
Breakspearrecorded with Buckland, same area
Colemanrecorded with Buckland, same area
Feildenrecorded with Buckland, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Quarter Sessions Records of the County of Devon, 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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
