Shropshire's Punning Heraldry - Biston

A pun of the first division, the arms of Biston:

Biston, Randle, Bailiff of Shrewsbury, 1520. 

Arms: Argent, a bend between six bees Sable.

Also recorded in the same volume (The Armorial Bearings of Shropshire Families) are the arms of Bishton (with an h) 

Bishton, Thomas, 1834.

Arms: Argent, a bend between six bees volant 2 & 1 and 1 & 2 Sable. (from a seal). [I have taken a slight liberty with the lower bees in order to fit them in]

I believe that this is a dialectal variation on the surname Beeston, especially as the arms themselves are identical to those of Beeston of Beeston Castle, Cheshire:

Arms: Argent a bend between six bees Sable. 

Crest: On a mount Vert, a castle Or, therefrom issuing an arm embowed, in armour proper, the gauntlet holding a sword Argent, hilt and pommel Gold.

Motto: Si Genus Jactas Aliena Laudas 

Visitations of Cheshire 1613.                                                    

 "Branches  of  this  family are  to  be  found  in  Yorkshire,  Lancashire,  Shropshire,  Rutlandshire  and  Hampshire.”  

The arms of Biston

Shropshire's Punning Heraldry - Bird

 Not exactly a first class pun but at least the arms show a connection to the surname. The arms of Bird of Westminster, descended from those of Salop.

Arms: Azure, a lion passant guardant ducally crowned Or between three turtle doves rising Argent each holding in his beak a trefoil slipped Or.

Crest: A ring-dove Proper resting its right claw on a rose Or.

Granted September 16th 1723 (Edmonson 3 - 581).

The arms of Bird of Westminster, descended from those of Salop.

Shropshire's Punning Heraldry - Benbow

 Benbow of Newport and Bolas.

Arms: Sable, two stringed bows endorsed in pale Or garnished Gules between two bundles of arrows in fess, three in each of the second barbed and headed Argent banded of the third.

Crest: A harpy close Or face Proper head wreathed with a chaplet of flowers Gules.

Edmonson Visitations p.68; Visitations of 1584.

The English surname Benbow, chiefly found in Shropshire, is of occupational origin. The name Benbow is derived from the Middle English term bend(en) meaning “to bend” and bowe meaning “ a bow,' hence an occupational name for an archer.

Lots of information on the Newport Benbows, along with an image which saves me duplicating the work, can be found here:

https://bravebenbow.com/?page_id=206

Image credit to Katherine Benbow and the aformentioned website.

Shropshire's Punning Heraldry - Barzey

Barzey of Shrewsbury (1623 Visitations). 

Arms: Argent, two bars Gules on a canton of the last a maunch Or. 

Crest: A squirrel sejant Proper cracking a nut Or (Confirmed by Edmonson). 

These are the same arms as those confirmed for Bardsey of Lichfield and also Bardsey of Lincolnshire.

Punning, but only in that the coat is "barry". Nice nontheless.

The arms of Barzey of Shrewsbury.

 

Shropshire's Punning Heraldry - Arundel

I feel that I've taken a few liberties with this one. Usually, the Arundell arms feature a martlet but in this blazon it simply states "six birds, 3 2 & 1 Argent clawed Gules". Whilst I would normally illustrate martlets, they clearly have no claws but then again, the pun is that the bird should be a swallow. It simply states birds but I've chosen to make them volant (in flight). The way I have emblazoned them gives the whole a sort of depth. 

Arundel, Thomas, Sable, six birds, 3 2 & 1 Argent clawed Gules (from the Corbet Pedigree).

The six birds are, in other, similar, Arundel arms swallows (often emblazoned as martlets but here they can't be because the blazon states "clawed Gules"); the heraldic pun associated with Arundel involves the use of swallows, known in French as hirondelles. 

This is a classic example of "canting arms"—a heraldic pun where the emblem represents the name of the bearer. The Pun: The French word for swallow, hirondelle, sounds similar to the town and family name Arundel.

While some theories suggest the name comes from "hoarhound-dell" or an Old English word for eagle, the swallow pun is a long-standing, romantic tradition associated with the family's arms. 

The arms of Thomas Arundel.

Shropshire's Punning Heraldry - Archer

There aren't many details listed for this one in "Shropshire Families" but Archer is listed as Archer, Richard, Sheriff, 1431, Azure, three broad arrows points downwards, 2 & 1 Or. The pun, I hope, is obvious.

The arms of Richard Archer, Sheriff, 1431.

Shropshire's Punning Heraldry

Basnett

There are thousands of arms in the book The Armorial Bearings of Shropshire Families from a MS of the Late George Morris, of Shrewsbury, and many of the surnames listed therein would have been perfect for punning arms but alas, most are a missed opportunity.  

All is not entirely lost however and there are more than enough to make an interesting project. Some, like the arms of Richard Archer, Sheriff, 1431, can be easilly guessed and those of Arundel are perhaps well known in heraldic circles, Barzy is a nice one that I may have a go at emblazoning as it is barry and Benbow, a bent bow, will also contribute to this project but what caught my eye most in this early stage were the arms of Basnett, for no other reason than when I met my lady wife over half a century ago she lived in a cottage in Basnett's Wood. 

Basnett, Argent, a chevron Gules between three profile helmets Proper 2 & 1.

Crest: A dexter arm embowed in armour, holding in the hand a falchion all Proper.

These arms feature upon a Monument at Baschurch to William Basnett, of that place and of Wikey. Also of St. Martins-in-the-Fields, Justice of the Peace for Co. Middlesex.

The Arms of Basnett, of Baschurch. 

The surname Basnett is primarily an English and Irish name of Norman origin, originating as an occupational term for a maker or wearer of a "basinet" (a type of medieval helmet) or derived from the Old English word "bas" (low stature). It is historically associated with Shropshire, England.