Tuesday, 28 April 2026

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




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