A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bumsted family of England.
Reg. 1828 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 bend betw. two crosses formée fitchée gu. three mullets of the field”
SuffolkSuffolk, c. 1620
Where the Bumsted Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Bumsted arms are recorded
The Bumsted arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Bumsted 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Bumsted Family in England
The family name Bumsted originated in England as a locative surname, meaning it was derived from a specific place rather than a trade or personal characteristic. The name is linked to the village of Bumstead in the county of Essex, which was recorded in the Domesday Book as early as 1086. By the year 1620, members of the family had established a notable presence in the neighboring county of Suffolk. During this period, families often moved between these two regions due to the close proximity and the shared agricultural economy of East Anglia. As the name spread from its original village, it evolved through various spellings in parish registers and legal documents, reflecting the way local clerks recorded names based on how they sounded. This history highlights a family deeply rooted in the rural landscape of southeastern England for centuries before many members eventually migrated across the Atlantic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bunsted
A place name derived from Old English words for reed and site.
This name
BumstedRefers to a person who lived at a settlement located near a reed bed.
also spelled
Bumstead
Related arms
Brumstedsimilar arms
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Suffolk Archives, Parish Registers of Suffolk, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
