A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Burden family of England.
Reg. 6011 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
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. three pilgrims' staves in fesse gu. pomelled or”
LincolnGosberkirk · Lincoln, c. 1620
Where the Burden Arms Were Recorded
Lincoln
Map of England showing where the Burden arms are recorded
The Burden arms were recorded in Lincoln, c. 1620.
Lincolnshire was rich farming country, and its wealth was spread across many middling families. Households of that size bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Burden 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 Lincoln.
Origin & History of the Burden Family in England
The surname Burden is rooted in the Old English language and typically served as a descriptive name for a person who lived near a specific landmark. It often referred to someone residing near a "burh," which was a fortified town or hill, or perhaps a valley known as a "den." By the time members of the family were documented in Lincoln in 1620, the name had already been established in England for several centuries. Families with this name were often part of the local community life in the East Midlands, where they worked as farmers, tradespeople, or skilled laborers. Because Lincoln was a major administrative and religious center, families living there during the early seventeenth century were often connected to the city's growing commerce and trade networks. This period was a time of significant transition, and the Burden family was part of the population that helped shape the local culture of the region before many English families began their journeys to the American colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Byrden
Old English term referring to a load or a burden carried.
This name
BurdenA topographic name for someone who lived near a hill or a place where goods were transported.
also spelled
Burdon
Burdin
Burdine
Related arms
Burdonsame arms
Berdenvariant spelling
Bourdenvariant spelling
Bowlesrecorded with Burden, same area
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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Lincolnshire Archives, Lincoln Consistory Court Wills, 1620
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batonAuthority and office held under the crown
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
