A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Vidler family of England.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Or, three bars wavy sa”
The Vidler 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.
Reigning in England when the Vidler arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Vidler is believed to have originated as a descriptive occupational name, likely derived from the Middle English word "fideler," which referred to a person who played the fiddle. During the medieval period, surnames were often adopted based on a person’s trade or musical talents, and it is probable that an early ancestor earned this name by performing at local gatherings or celebrations. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Vidler family were firmly established in the city of York. Living in a major northern hub like York suggests that these early family members were integrated into the urban economy of the seventeenth century, perhaps working as skilled tradespeople or merchants. Over time, the spelling evolved from its musical roots into the modern form of Vidler, serving as a lasting link to the professional lives of those who carried the name centuries ago.
An occupational term for a person who plays the fiddle.
