A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Burrs family of England.
Reg. 1215 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Or, in chief two boars' heads erased sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Burrs Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Burrs arms are recorded
The Burrs 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 Burrs 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 Burrs Family in England
The surname Burrs is primarily rooted in the linguistic traditions of Northern England, where it likely originated as a topographic name for people living near a thicket or a patch of prickly plants. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 indicate that members of the Burrs family were active participants in the local community during a period of significant social and economic change in Yorkshire. As residents of a major trade hub, these early family members were often involved in the merchant classes or local craft guilds that defined the city’s character. Their settlement in York suggests a long-standing connection to the region, where the name evolved alongside the local dialect and the shifting administrative records of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bur
Old Norse term for a small dwelling or chamber.
This name
BurrsA topographic name for someone who lived near a prickly plant or a small cottage.
also spelled
Bure
Burre
Related arms
Burevariant spelling
Buresvariant spelling
Burrevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Account Rolls, 1620
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boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
