A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Burghall family of England.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commanderSir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Paly or and sa., a bend gu”
The Burghall 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.
Reigning in England when the Burghall 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 surname Burghall is a locative name, which means it likely originated from a specific place or settlement. In Old English, the prefix "burgh" refers to a fortified town or a protected enclosure, while the suffix "hall" typically denotes a large residence or a communal building. This suggests that the earliest members of the family may have been associated with a manor or a fortified dwelling within a town. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that the Burghall family was well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a significant center for trade and administration in Northern England, and families living there were often involved in local commerce or civic duties. The presence of the family in such a prominent urban hub indicates that they were likely integrated into the social and economic life of the region during the early seventeenth century.
Old English term for a fortified place or town.
