A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Corbyn family of England.
Reg. 7739 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ravenConstancy and divine providence
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Per fesse or and az. three ravens in chief ppr”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Corbyn Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Corbyn arms are recorded
The Corbyn 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 Corbyn 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 Corbyn Family in England
The family name Corbyn is rooted in the medieval period and likely originated as a descriptive nickname. Etymologists often link the name to the Old French word corbin, which refers to a raven. This suggests that the name was originally given to someone who possessed dark hair or a sharp, observant nature similar to the bird. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Corbyn family were well-established in the city of York. During this era, York served as a major center for trade and religious life in Northern England. Families living in the city at that time were often involved in the local wool industry or the merchant guilds that governed urban commerce. As these early ancestors navigated the social and economic changes of the seventeenth century, the name became a permanent fixture within the regional history of Yorkshire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
corvus
A Latin term referring to a raven or crow.
This name
CorbynDerived from a nickname for someone with dark hair or a dark complexion.
also spelled
Corbin
Corben
Related arms
Corbenvariant spelling
Corbinvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ravenConstancy and divine providence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ravenConstancy and divine providence
