Map of England showing where the Burdick arms are recorded
The Burdick arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Burdick 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Burdick Family in England
The surname Burdick is believed to have originated in England, with historical records placing members of the family in the county of Kent as early as 1620. The name is generally considered to be a variation of the Old English name Burdet, which likely served as a descriptive nickname for a person who was small or young. Over several generations, the spelling evolved through various forms as families moved and local record keepers wrote the name based on how it sounded to them. By the early seventeenth century, the Burdick family was well established in the southeastern regions of England. Many individuals bearing this name eventually chose to leave their homeland to seek new opportunities in the American colonies, where they helped build some of the earliest settlements in New England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bur-dic
Old English words for a fortified place and a ditch or dike.
This name
BurdickA dweller near a fortified embankment or a defensive trench.
also spelled
Braddocke
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
The National Archives (UK), Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
lionCourage, strength and royalty
foxWit and wisdom in defence
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
lionCourage, strength and royalty
foxWit and wisdom in defence
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
