A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bucknell family of England.
Reg. 3666 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
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)
“Sa. on a canton or, a mullet of the first”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bucknell Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bucknell arms are recorded
The Bucknell 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 Bucknell 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 Bucknell Family in England
The surname Bucknell is a locative name, meaning it likely originated from a specific place or geographical feature where the earliest members of the family resided. The name is rooted in Old English, often associated with a "bucca" or buck, combined with a "hyll" or hill, suggesting the family lived near a prominent slope frequented by deer. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Bucknell family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a vital northern center for trade and administration, and families living there were often involved in the city’s guilds or local commerce. As the family grew, they moved through different social circles, leaving behind traces in parish registers and legal documents that highlight their steady presence in northern England throughout the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bucca and halh
Old English for a personal name and a nook or corner
This name
BucknellA dweller in the nook or corner of land belonging to a man named Bucca
also spelled
Bucknall
Bucknill
Related arms
Bucknallvariant 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
Smith, A.H., The Place-Names of the East Riding of Yorkshire and York, 1937
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
