Map of England showing where the Burlinson arms are recorded
The Burlinson arms were recorded in Durham, c. 1620.
Durham was governed by its bishop rather than the crown for most of its history, with its own courts and its own landed class. That separate world produced a tight group of families, nearly all of whom held 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 Burlinson 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 Durham.
Origin & History of the Burlinson Family in England
The surname Burlinson is deeply rooted in the history of County Durham, where records confirm the family was well-established by the early seventeenth century. The name is classified as a locative or habitational surname, which suggests that the earliest ancestors likely took their name from a specific place or small settlement in Northern England. During the 1600s, the region was heavily influenced by the coal mining industry and agricultural life, and families like the Burlinsons were often tied to the land through tenant farming or local trade. As the family grew, they became a consistent part of the local parish records, which were essential for tracking births, marriages, and deaths in Durham during this era. Because the name remained concentrated in this specific northern region for generations, it reflects the strong sense of community and regional identity that defined life in the English North East long before the Industrial Revolution.
Burlinson Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Burle
A small hill or a fortified place.
This name
BurlinsonDescendant of the person who lived near the small hill or fortified settlement.
also spelled
Burlenson
Burlinsonne
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Durham County Record Office, Bishop's Transcripts of Parish Registers, 1620
Surtees, Robert, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham, 1816
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
lionCourage, strength and royalty
