A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Burkitt family of England.
Reg. 5758 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Gu. three mullets or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Burkitt Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Burkitt arms are recorded
The Burkitt 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Burkitt 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 England.
Origin & History of the Burkitt Family in England
The surname Burkitt is a topographical name that likely originated in Northern England, where it served as a descriptive label for families living near a specific type of birch tree forest. The name is derived from the Old Norse word "birki," meaning birch, combined with a suffix denoting a small enclosure or clearing. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Burkitt family were active participants in the civic and social life of this region during the Stuart period. As the family grew, they became deeply integrated into the local economy and parish life of Yorkshire, reflecting the broader patterns of migration and settlement common among families in the north of England during that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Burk
A diminutive form of the Old Norse name Burgard meaning fortress guard.
This name
BurkittA diminutive form indicating a small or lesser fortress or a dweller by a small fort.
also spelled
Burkett
Burkat
Related arms
Burkettvariant 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, 1958
Smith, A.H., The Place-Names of the East Riding of Yorkshire and York, 1937
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
The National Archives, Lay Subsidy Rolls for the County of York
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mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
