A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Burbridge family of England.
Reg. 9905 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Erm. a boar pass. sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Burbridge Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Burbridge arms are recorded
The Burbridge 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 Burbridge 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 Burbridge Family in England
The surname Burbridge is a locational name that originated in England, likely referring to someone who lived near a bridge located by a stream or a small town. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Burbridge family were well-established in the historic city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and religious life, and families living there were often involved in the city’s bustling merchant guilds or local craft industries. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of northern England, moving through the changing political and economic landscapes of the seventeenth century. The name itself reflects the common practice of identifying individuals by the landmarks near their homes, a tradition that helped define family identities in medieval and early modern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Burh-brycg
Old English for fortified settlement and bridge.
This name
BurbridgeRefers to someone who lived near a bridge leading to a fortified town or manor.
also spelled
Burbidge
Burbage
Burbrige
Related arms
Burbagevariant spelling
Burbidgevariant 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
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
York City Archives, York Freemen’s Register, 1272–1759
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boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
