A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Burrows family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2370 · Britain, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé d'azur sur sa.; à un caducée d'arg., en pal, br. sur le coupé, acc. de trois fleurs-de-lis d'herm., 2 en chef et 1 en p. C.: une aigle de profil d'or, le vol levé, coll. d'azur, tenant au bec un fer de lance au nat. et de sa patte dextre une fleur-de-lis d'azur en fasce. D.: ET VI ET VIRTUTE.”
BritainLondres, c. 1700
Where the Burrows Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Burrows arms are recorded
The Burrows arms were recorded in Londres, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Burrows arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Burrows Family in Britain
The surname Burrows is a topographic name, which means it was originally used to describe where a person lived. In Middle English, the word "burgh" or "borgh" referred to a fortified place, a hill, or a sheltered dwelling. Families who took this name likely lived near a prominent earthwork, a burial mound, or a small fortified settlement. By the time the name became established in Kent during the early 1700s, it had already evolved through various spellings such as Burrowes and Burroughs. These families were often part of the local agrarian society, living in the rolling landscapes of Southern England where they worked the land or practiced skilled trades. As the name spread across the British Isles, it became a common identifier for those connected to the distinct geography of their local parishes.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. three fleurs-de-lis or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Burrows Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Burrows arms are recorded
The Burrows 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 Britain when the Burrows 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 Burrows Family in England
The surname Burrows is a locational name that emerged in medieval England to describe people who lived near a prominent hill, earthwork, or fortified dwelling. The term itself is derived from the Old English word "burh," which originally referred to a protected place or a small settlement. By the time the name became established in northern England, it served as a way to identify individuals based on their proximity to these specific landscape features. Historical records confirm that members of the family were living in York by 1620, a time when the city served as a major hub for trade and administration in the north. Because York was a center of regional importance, families residing there often held roles in local commerce or craft guilds. This early presence in such a significant city suggests that the Burrows family was well-integrated into the social and economic life of northern England during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
burg
A fortified place, town, or stronghold.
This name
BurrowsA dweller by a fortification or a person living near a burrow or earthwork.
also spelled
Burroughs
Burous
Burrowe
Related arms
Burroughsvariant spelling
Borrowesvariant spelling
Burroughesvariant spelling
Burrowe, or Boroughvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
The National Archives, Parish registers of Kent, series RG 4
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batonAuthority and office held under the crown
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
