Map of England showing where the Buerkle arms are recorded
The Buerkle 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 Buerkle 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 Buerkle Family in England
The surname Buerkle has deep roots in the Germanic regions of Europe, where it functioned as a descriptive name for ancestors who lived near a small stream or a brook. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "burk," which refers to a small watercourse or a specific type of shrubbery found near such areas. By the early 17th century, members of the family had established a presence in the historic city of York, England, during a period of significant migration and social change. These early settlers likely arrived as part of the movement of skilled tradespeople and merchants traveling between the continent and the British Isles. As they integrated into the local community, the family name evolved in spelling to match the phonetic patterns of the English language while maintaining its original connection to the landscape of their ancestral homeland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Burk
A fortified place or a castle.
This name
BuerkleA diminutive form referring to someone who lived near a small fortified settlement.
also spelled
Berkeley
Barkley
Berkely
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Archives: Parish Registers of York, 1620
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