Map of England showing where the Burgess arms are recorded
The Burgess arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1593.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Burgess 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 Burgess Family in England
The surname Burgess originated in medieval England as a descriptive title for a person who lived in a fortified town or held the status of a freeman within a borough. During the Middle Ages, a "burgess" was a person of standing who possessed specific rights and responsibilities within their local community, often serving as a representative in town government. By the time members of the family were recorded in Kent in 1593, the name had transitioned from a professional title into a hereditary surname passed down through generations. These early ancestors in Kent were likely part of the growing class of landowners and tradespeople who helped shape the local economy and social structure of the region. As the family established roots in the area, they became part of the long history of English village and town life that defined the social landscape of the late sixteenth century.
Burgess Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
burg
A fortified settlement or walled town.
This name
BurgessAn inhabitant or freeman of a fortified town or borough.
also spelled
Burgis
Burgeis
Burge
Related arms
Bourgeoisvariant spelling
Bourgesvariant spelling
Burgevariant spelling
Burgeisvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
Kent Archives, Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury Probate Records, 1593
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
