A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Harbron family of England.
Reg. 3304 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Gu. a fish naiant ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Harbron Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Harbron arms are recorded
The Harbron 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 Harbron 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 Harbron Family in England
The surname Harbron is deeply rooted in the historic city of York, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a locational or occupational descriptor, reflecting the way people were identified in northern England during the late Middle Ages. In the early seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, providing a stable environment for families to grow and leave their mark on local parish registers. As the Harbron name appeared in these official documents, it suggests that the family were active participants in the civic and social fabric of the city. Over time, the name became a permanent fixture of the region, carrying the history of those early ancestors who navigated the changing landscape of seventeenth-century Yorkshire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Herebeorht
Derived from the Old English elements for army and bright.
This name
HarbronA locative surname referring to a dweller at the army bright settlement or enclosure.
also spelled
Harborn
Harburn
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Archive: Parish Registers of St. Crux, York
Collins, Francis, Register of the Freemen of the City of York from the City Records, 1897
York City Archives, House Books of the City of York
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
