A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bucks family of England.
Reg. 4408 · 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
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
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. on a chev. gu. betw. three bucks' heads cabossed sa. an annulet or”
Englandc. 1652
Where the Bucks Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bucks arms are recorded
The Bucks arms were recorded in England, c. 1652.
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.
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 Bucks Family in England
The family name Bucks is rooted in the social and geographical landscape of Northern England, specifically within the historic city of York. By the mid-seventeenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents in this area by 1652. During this period, York served as a vital hub for trade and administration, and families living there were often connected to the local guild systems or the agricultural life of the surrounding Yorkshire countryside. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a locative reference, perhaps identifying an early ancestor by their association with a specific place or a personal trait. As these individuals navigated the political and social shifts of the 1600s, they became part of the enduring history of the city, contributing to the local community during a time of significant national change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bucc
Old English term for a male deer or stag.
This name
BucksA topographic name for someone living near a place frequented by deer.
also spelled
Buckes
Buckys
Bux
Bucke
Related arms
Buckevariant 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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1652
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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