A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bulman family of England.
Reg. 9165 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
bullValour and generosity
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Gu. three bars wavy ar. on a chief or, an annulet betw. two bulls' heads cabossed sa. through each of their nostrils an annulet of the last”
NorthumberlandNorthumberland, c. 1620
Where the Bulman Arms Were Recorded
Northumberland
Map of England showing where the Bulman arms are recorded
The Bulman arms were recorded in Northumberland, c. 1620.
Northumberland was border country facing Scotland, raided and fought over for three hundred years. Families held their land in return for defending it, and a defending household carried a shield.
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 Bulman 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 Northumberland.
Origin & History of the Bulman Family in England
The family name Bulman is deeply rooted in the rugged landscape of Northern England, with strong historical ties to the county of Northumberland. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents in this region, likely living as farmers or tradespeople in the rural borderlands. The name itself is thought to be an occupational or descriptive surname, possibly derived from the Middle English words for a bull and a man, which may have originally referred to a person who herded cattle or possessed the strength and temperament of a bull. Because Northumberland was a frontier area frequently affected by border conflicts during the medieval and early modern periods, the Bulman family would have needed to be resilient and self-sufficient to thrive in such a challenging environment. Over the centuries, the family grew alongside the local community, contributing to the agricultural and social development of the North East of England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bull
A male bovine animal often used as a symbol of strength.
This name
BulmanAn occupational name for a keeper or tender of bulls.
also spelled
Bullmane
Bulmon
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, 1997
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
bullValour and generosity
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
bullValour and generosity
