A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bushnell family of England.
Reg. 4702 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fusilTravail and industry
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. five fusils in fesse gu. in chief three mullets sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bushnell Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bushnell arms are recorded
The Bushnell 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 Bushnell 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 Bushnell Family in England
The surname Bushnell is of English origin and likely describes a person who lived near a specific type of landscape feature. The name is derived from the Old English words for a bush and a hill, suggesting that early ancestors lived on or near a hill covered in thick shrubbery. By the early 17th century, the family was well established in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Bushnell family were active residents in this area during a time of great social change in England. Many families with this name eventually sought new opportunities across the Atlantic, helping to carry the name from its northern English roots into the early colonial history of North America.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Buss
A Middle English term for a thicket or a small bush.
This name
BushnellA dweller by a thicket or a clearing near a cluster of shrubs.
also spelled
Bushnill
Related arms
Bosvillsimilar arms
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
The National Archives, UK, Probate records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fusilTravail and industry
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fusilTravail and industry
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
