A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bulmer family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0880 · Britain, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. semé de bill. d'or; au lion du même, br. sur le tout.”
Britainc. 1700
Where the Bulmer Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Bulmer arms are recorded
The Bulmer arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Bulmer arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Bulmer Family in Britain
The surname Bulmer is rooted in ancient English geography, originating as a locational name derived from a village of the same name in North Yorkshire. The name itself likely combines an Old English personal name with the word for a pool or a lake, suggesting that the earliest families were identified by their proximity to a specific body of water. While the name traces its deepest origins to the northern regions of England, the family expanded across the country over several centuries. By the year 1700, records confirm that members of the Bulmer family had established a notable presence in Kent. This movement reflects the broader historical trend of families migrating from rural northern estates toward the prosperous agricultural and trade hubs of the south. As these individuals settled into new communities, they helped carry the name from its medieval origins into the modern era of British history.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. a lion ramp. betw. twelve billets or”
Englandc. 1342
Where the Bulmer Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bulmer arms are recorded
The Bulmer arms were recorded in England, c. 1342.
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.
Edward III of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward III of England
1327–1377
Reigning in Britain when the Bulmer 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 Bulmer Family in England
The family name Bulmer traces its roots to the northern regions of England, specifically within the county of Yorkshire. The name is locative in origin, meaning it was derived from the village of Bulmer located near Castle Howard. By the year 1342, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the city of York, where they participated in the local social and economic life of the medieval period. During these early centuries, the family name became closely tied to the landscape of the North Riding, reflecting the common practice of families adopting the names of their ancestral manors. As the family grew, their presence expanded throughout the region, cementing their identity as a prominent part of the local history of northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bulmer
Derived from the Old English words for bull and a lake or pool.
This name
BulmerRefers to a person who lived near a pool frequented by bulls.
also spelled
Bulmar
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
The National Archives. Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers. 1700
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
lionCourage, strength and royalty
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
