A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Burgon family of England.
Reg. 1132 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Az. a hound pass. ar”
HerefordLongstanton · Hereford, c. 1620
Where the Burgon Arms Were Recorded
Hereford
Map of England showing where the Burgon arms are recorded
The Burgon arms were recorded in Hereford, c. 1620.
Herefordshire lay on the Welsh border, where land was held in return for military service. Families there were expected to arm and to fight, and a fighting household needed a shield it could be known by.
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 Burgon 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 Hereford.
Origin & History of the Burgon Family in England
The surname Burgon is believed to have originated as a topographical name, likely describing someone who lived near a fortification or a small town. By the early 17th century, the family had established a clear presence in the English county of Herefordshire. Records confirm that members of the Burgon family were living in this region by 1620, a time when the area was primarily shaped by agriculture and local trade. As the family settled into the rural landscape of the West Midlands, they became part of the local community structure that defined life in the early Stuart period. Their history reflects the broader movement of families who maintained deep roots in specific English counties over several generations, contributing to the local economy and social fabric of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
burg
A fortified place or town.
This name
BurgonA person who lived in or originated from a fortified town or castle.
also spelled
Burgoyne
Burgin
Burgoine
Related arms
Burgaynevariant spelling
Burginvariant spelling
Burgoignevariant spelling
Burgoynvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Herefordshire Archives, Herefordshire Parish Registers: Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
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greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
