If you are confused by the various mascots and Coats of Arms I use in my writing, this is the right place to be. Here I will explain each set of Arms and the inspiration for each. Know first that they all constitute “Improper Use of Arms” by the Royal College of Arms. They have no legal status and are just meant to facilitate the conversation in a fun way.
Every time a new Babb(s) Y-DNA genetic line is identified a Coat of Arms is created and a mascot assigned that helps to provide clarity to the manifold lines I am discussing in my writing. Most lines are of English origin, except where notes for the Bavarian Babbs and the descendants of slaves whose owners were NOT their fathers.
We start with the line that started the Babb Family Association. Several descendants of Phillip Babb of the Isles of Shoals united in search of his ancestry. The Association was founded in 1989 as a result.
DNA-01: The Lions of the Sea Phillip was the legendary Fishing Master and Sheriff of the Isles of Shoals. He was a Lion in his own time and a master of the Seas. Hence the name The Lions of the Sea.
Today, we have finally connected him with his ancestors, and they are also masters of the sea. So, the name continues to be an apt description of the family unit. The tree goes back to 1475 with apparent ties to 1150 AD. This is far and away the largest collection of Babb descendants and is the line that I myself descend from.
DNA-02: The Green Men of Maryland is a family whose earliest records (1660) originate in Anne Arundel County, MD. Annapolis is the biggest city in this county.
When I was setting up the Mascot & Arms system, I first used mythological figures and selected the Green Men as virtually every Anglican Church of this age had a Green Man located amongst its embellishments. This was because the Green Man helped bring the crops in and most of the parishioners would be farmers. He was sort of a good luck charm. We had witnessed one such Green Man at the Church of Doddiscombsleigh during a BFA Reunion and it always stuck with me.
DNA-03: The White Stags of Virginia/North Carolina, draws its mascot from the Great White Stag, who steeped in myth and legend, roams the tapestry of ancient tales. Revered as a totemic creature, it embodies both hunting prowess and spiritual significance. In Celtic myth, encountering the white stag signals proximity to the Otherworld, a realm beyond our own. The stag’s color is pivotal: white signifies purity and otherworldliness.
The earliest records in this line date to 1635 in Southeastern Virginia and the family expanded to nearby Northeastern North Carolina as time went on.
DNA-04: The Dragons of Somerset draws its inspiration from the Dragon that adorns the Flag of Somerset County, England. I needed another mythical figure, and the flag was ready and willing to provide!
Additionally, 6 lions were added to provide richness and represent royalty. Babb Royalty, that is!
The Somerset Dragons are the largest and one of the oldest lineages (1480 AD) of Babbs in England originating in the Pitminster & Trull area of Somerset County (Shire).
DNA-05: The Falcons of Fremington, Devon came about as I knew that I had 3 different genetic pedigrees in Devon that each needed their own identity. I had run out of mythical figures and was expanding my scope.
So, I moved on to the Falcon. In the Middle Ages, falconry transcended mere hunting—it became a refined art and a symbol of status and prestige. Kings and nobles possessed the most prestigious birds, while lower-ranking individuals had smaller species.
The design incorporates a falcon flying over a castle wall with a rampant line adorned with azure claws adorns the foreground.
The earliest records date to 1781, so this is one of the youngest lines in our collection.
DNA-06: The Good Shepherds of Hatherleigh, Devon draws upon a tiny market town’s identity for the Coat of Arms. Hatherleigh, which is not much more than the crossroads to Okehampton, Holsworthy, Black Torrington & Petrockstow (say that 3 times fast). It is the smallest town in Devon and lies about 20 miles to the south of the Falcon Babbs of Fremington. It is in this community that we discover the 6th DNA Proven lineage of Babbs.
The Arms features two golden fleeced sheep in a pasture, which are protected by a lion hidden in the wheat. This represents the gentle power that it takes to tend to a flock.
The earliest records date to 1783.
DNA-07: The Gryphons of Halberton, Devon draws upon a mythological beast, which shares a lion’s body with the head of an Eagle. You will notice a striking resemblance in the lion’s body with that of the Devon Falcons, though the two should not be confused.
The earliest records date to 1654.
DNA-08: The White Swans of Buckinghamshire draws upon the county flag for inspiration, using the same color scheme and the symbol of the swan wearing a crown to craft this image. The Swan Emblem dates back to Anglo-Saxon times when Buckinghamshire was known for breeding swans for the King.
The earliest records date to 1783.
DNA-09: The Potters of Staffordshire draws inspiration from the County Flag for its backdrop and upon its history for the Roman & Greek figures seen along the top side.
Staffordshire is a known the world over as a producer of Fine China and is the home to remarkable potters such as Royal Worchester, Spode, Minton, Royal Doulton, Fenton, Royal Albert & Churchhill which is better known for its ubiquitous pattern Blue Willow. These companies, collectively referred to as the Staffordshire Potteries are contained in the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The area became a center of ceramic production in the early 17th Century due to the local availability of clay, salt, lead & coal.
The earliest records date to 1704.
DNA-10: The Celts of South Petherwin, Cornwall is currently the only Y-DNA lineage that has been confirmed in Cornwall. There are two possible others that remain untested, and I’ve saved space for them by adding the location of South Petherwin.
The earliest records date to 1796, making it one of the younger lines in our collection.
DNA-11: The Blue Panthers of Bavaria are a line from Modern Day Germany
The Blue Panther located in the bottom left, shows a blue panther rampant, edged in gold on a white (silver) background.
This formal Coat of Arms existed already for the German State of Bavaria. I quickly realized that it was better than anything I could come up with. Since I couldn’t beat them, I joined them and adopted it as the symbol.
The earliest records date to 1709.
DNA-12: The Brown Pelicans of Barbados. Y-DNA results show that this pedigree has an undisturbed male lineage going back to Africa. There isn’t a Babb origin story in Africa. Sadly, it came from English slavers in the colony of Barbados. The Pelican is the National Bird of Barbados, and it seemed fitting to use it as the mascot in their Coat of Arms.
There is just a single Babb Plantation from St. Lucy in Northwestern Barbados from which everyone seems disseminate from. Records are scarce and the line is very disjointed, but we have to start somewhere. This tree is currently kept separate to keep from losing people in the Big Tree. It is my hope that the Government will release additional records that will help clarify connectivity between the generations.
The earliest records date to 1638, but there are large gaps in the paper trail at this time.
DNA-13: The African Phoenix is a mythical bird that symbolizes rebirth, immortality, and renewal. The phoenix is often used as a symbol of resilience, transformation, and renewal in literature, art, music, film, and popular culture. The phoenix is also featured in many flags, coats of arms, logos, and mascots around the world. It now joins the manifold mascots of the Babb Surname representing the enslaved Africans who were severed from their culture only to give birth to a new one.
Records being as they are on these lineages, we will likely never know the exact ancestors that fill out the distant family tree. But they continue to rise again and with the help of Y-DNA research we believe the last phoenix originated in Ghana on the west coast of Africa.
There is no way for most African Americans to trace their way back to Africa. This line is sadly no exception.
There are easily more genetic lineages of Babb(s) that are not yet represented here. The Babb Family Association is in a continual search for additional candidates from trees not represented by Y-DNA evidence to help complete the picture of how all the Babbs connect. If you believe you have something to add to the picture, please feel free to reach out and share using the form below.
