A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bucknall family of England.
Reg. 2536 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Or, two chev. gu. betw. three bucks' heads cabossed sa”
HertfordOxhey · Hertford, c. 1620
Where the Bucknall Arms Were Recorded
Hertford
Map of England showing where the Bucknall arms are recorded
The Bucknall arms were recorded in Hertford, c. 1620.
Hertfordshire lay just north of London and filled with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate within a day's ride was the usual next step, and an estate brought arms with it.
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 Bucknall 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 Hertford.
Origin & History of the Bucknall Family in England
The surname Bucknall is a locative name, meaning it originally identified people who came from a specific place. It is derived from the Old English words "bucca," meaning a male goat, and "halh," which refers to a nook or a secluded valley. This suggests that the first people to carry the name lived in a small, hidden valley known for its goats. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Bucknall family were well-established in the town of Hertford. During this period, families often moved from rural areas into growing market towns to pursue new trades and economic opportunities. As the family settled in Hertford, they became part of the local community, leaving behind traces in parish registers and legal documents that help historians track their movement and growth over the following centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bucca
An Old English personal name derived from the word for goat.
This name
BucknallRefers to a dweller at the valley or nook belonging to a man named Bucca.
also spelled
Bucknell
Bucknoll
Related arms
Bucknellvariant spelling
Bucknolevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P. H. and Wilson, R. M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Mills, A. D., A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 2011
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Hertford St Andrew Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
