A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lavender family of England.
Reg. 8853 · English, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
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)
“Per fesse gu. and ar. a pale and three gem rings counterchanged”
BedfordFelmersham · Bedford, c. 1620
Where the Lavender Arms Were Recorded
Bedford
Map of England showing where the Lavender arms are recorded
The Lavender arms were recorded in Bedford, c. 1620.
Bedfordshire was small, flat farming country close to London. Its manors were held by middling families rather than great ones, but a manor was a manor, and holding one brought 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 Lavender 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 Bedford.
Origin & History of the Lavender Family in England
The surname Lavender is an occupational name that likely originated in medieval England to describe someone who worked as a launderer or a washer of clothes. In the Middle Ages, this profession was essential for maintaining the linens and garments of households, and the name gradually became a hereditary identifier passed down through generations. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the town of Bedford. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Lavender family were living in this region during a time of significant social and political change in England. These early ancestors were part of the local community structure, living through an era that preceded the major migrations to the American colonies. Their presence in Bedford highlights the deep roots the family established in the English Midlands long before the name spread to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
lavandula
A genus of aromatic flowering plants in the mint family.
This name
LavenderAn occupational name for a person who washed clothes or a topographic name for someone living near lavender fields.
also spelled
Lavinder
Lavendre
Lavendier
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
Bedfordshire Archives, Bedford St Paul Parish Registers, 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
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
