A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Burgès family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mindJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or à une aigle mornée de sa.”
The Burgès arms were recorded in Spain, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Castile.
Castile was the heart of Spain and the source of most of its noble families. Land won in the long wars against the Moors was granted out to fighting men, and a man granted land was granted arms along with it.
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 Spain in this period.
Reigning in Spain when the Burgès arms are first recorded.
In Spain, a coat of arms was considered a form of property that belonged to the entire family line. These arms were passed down from a father to all his children equally. Younger branches of the family usually kept the original design without needing to add any special marks to distinguish their specific line.
The family name Burgès finds its roots in the social and geographical shifts of medieval and early modern Spain. The name is historically linked to the term "burgués," which described a person who lived in a town or a "burgo" rather than in the rural countryside. By the early eighteenth century, the family had firmly established itself within the region of Castile. Records from 1722 confirm their presence in this area, suggesting that the family was part of the growing urban middle class that supported the administrative and economic life of the Spanish interior. During this period, families with this name were often involved in local trade or municipal governance, reflecting the transition of Spanish society toward more organized town life. This history highlights a lineage defined by its connection to the development of Spanish urban centers and the evolving professional roles of its citizens during the Bourbon reforms.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bordureA difference between branches of one family
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusadesSir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. a fesse lozengy or and az. in chief three mascles of the third, within a bordure of the same bezantée”
The Burgès arms were recorded in Dorset, c. 1614.
Dorset was quiet farming and grazing country along the south coast. Its gentry were middling rather than grand, but they held their manors for a very long time, and long holding is what puts a name in the records.
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.
Reigning in Spain when the Burgès arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Burgès, often anglicized as Burgess, traces its linguistic roots to the Old French word *burgeis*, which referred to a freeman or a prominent resident of a fortified town. By the early 17th century, the name was firmly established within the social fabric of southwestern England, particularly in the county of Dorset. Records confirm that members of the family were active in this region by 1614, living as part of a growing class of tradespeople and landowners who helped shape local community life. During this period, families with this surname were often involved in the agricultural and maritime industries that defined the Dorset coastline. As these individuals moved through the parish systems of the time, they helped transition the name from a simple descriptor of town status into a hereditary surname that identified their specific lineage within the English countryside.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commanderroundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusadesSir 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 sa. three plates”
The Burgès arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
Reigning in Spain when the Burgès arms are first recorded.
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
The history of the Burgès name in Ireland is deeply rooted in the urban development of seventeenth-century Dublin. By 1645, members of the family were already established residents within the city, a period marked by significant political upheaval and shifting social structures following the Irish Confederate Wars. The name itself is likely a variation of the term burgess, which historically referred to a freeman or a prominent citizen who held rights within a borough or town. As Dublin grew into a vital center of trade and administration, families like the Burgès were often involved in the civic life and merchant activities that defined the city’s economy. Their presence in the capital during this era suggests they were part of the growing urban middle class that navigated the complex transition of Ireland under the influence of both local traditions and incoming continental European naming conventions.
A Latin term referring to a small fortified place or castle.
