Map of England showing where the Byrd arms are recorded
The Byrd arms were recorded in Northampton, c. 1620.
Northamptonshire was grazing and hunting country in the middle of England, thick with manor houses. Its families were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Byrd 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 Northampton.
Origin & History of the Byrd Family in England
The surname Byrd is an ancient English name that originally functioned as a descriptive nickname for a person who possessed bird-like qualities, such as a cheerful personality or a quick, agile nature. By the time the name began to appear in official records, it was often associated with individuals who lived in or near the county of Northampton. When members of the Byrd family arrived in the American colonies around 1620, they brought this long-standing English heritage with them to the new frontier. These early settlers were part of a wave of migration that helped establish the foundations of colonial society. Over time, the name evolved from a simple descriptor into a permanent family identity that was passed down through generations of farmers, tradespeople, and community leaders. The presence of the family in Northampton during the early seventeenth century highlights their deep roots in English history before they transitioned into their new life across the Atlantic.
Byrd Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
brid
Old English term for a young bird or fledgling.
This name
ByrdA topographic or occupational name for someone who lived near a bird sanctuary or caught birds.
also spelled
Bird
Birde
Related arms
Berdvariant spelling
Birdvariant spelling
Birdevariant spelling
Burdvariant 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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Colonial Office: Records of the Virginia Company of London, 1606–1624
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
