A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wilburn 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)“Paly wavy of eight gu. and erm”
The Wilburn 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 Wilburn 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 Wilburn is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, originating as a locative name that described where a person lived. It is derived from Old English words meaning a stream or spring near a willow tree. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Wilburn family were living in this northern hub by 1620, a time when York was a vital center for trade and religious life. These early ancestors likely worked as skilled craftsmen or merchants, contributing to the bustling economy of the city. As the family grew, their influence spread beyond the city walls, eventually leading some members to seek new opportunities across the Atlantic in the American colonies.
Derived from Old English elements meaning war and warrior or bear.
