Straw Family Crest mug

A Straw Family Crest mug makes a thoughtful gift for any family celebration. Beautifully illustrated. Carefully researched. Uniquely personal.

Eminently suited for a proper brew! Whether it’s a gift to mark a milestone birthday, a new home, or Christmas morning — here’s an artwork with history in your hands. 

The origin of the name Straw

In the context of  English West Country heraldry this coat of arms began with the family line known as Trobridge / Strobridge in the 12th century, later expanding into Strawbridge, and eventually being shortened to Straw in various parish records.

The name is a classic example of an English habitational name, deeply rooted in the Anglo-Saxon period. It primarily originates from the ancient hamlet of Strawbridge located within the parish of Hatherleigh in Devon, England. The etymology of the name stems from the Old English elements stōw, meaning a "place" or "holy place," combined with brycg, denoting a "bridge".

Due to the regional dialects of the West Country, early clerks frequently recorded the name interchangeably with its close phonetic variants, Trobridge and Trowbridge (derived from dwelling near a wooden or stone bridge). The surname permanently stabilised as a hereditary family name during the late sixteenth century as regional parish records were codified, expanding into London and the northern province of Ulster in Ireland by the early seventeenth century.

The symbolism of the Strawbridge coat of arms

The armorial configuration displayed in your reference is a powerful, fact-based design governed by the traditional rules of medieval heraldry. The primary shield features a solid gold field (Or) bearing a vibrant red stone bridge consisting of three distinct arches (gules). The bridge spans across three flowing blue-and-silver water streams, formally blazoned as streams transfluent proper. In the language of heraldry, the gold field signifies generosity, prestige, and elevation of mind, whilst the bridge serves as an enduring emblem of engineered stability, structural support, and the ability to unite divided communities.

Surmounting the middle arch of the bridge is a prominent red castle tower (a tower gules) flying a silver or white flag (thereon a fane argent). The tower represents a stronghold of safety, exceptional vigilance, and defensive fortification, while the white flag signifies peace, sincerity, and pure intentions in times of conflict.

Factual documentation tracks this precise layout directly to the master registries of British armorial history, notably catalogued in the standard reference Parker's Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry, which legalises its status as an authentic historical insignia for the family lineage.

Notable Historical figures

Jack Straw (died 1381)
One of the key leaders of the famous Peasants' Revolt of 1381 in England. Alongside Wat Tyler and John Ball, he led thousands of insurgents marching on London to protest against the oppressive royal Poll Tax. Though executed following the rebellion's defeat, his name became immortalised in English cultural history. He was famously mentioned in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales ("The Nun's Priest's Tale"), served as the title character in the anonymous 1593 Elizabethan play The Life and Death of Jack Straw, and inspired the famous London landmark pub, Jack Straw's Castle on Hampstead Heath.

Ezekiel Albert Straw (1819–1882)
An influential 19th-century American engineer, industrialist, and politician. Hailing from a line of New England settlers, he was instrumental in planning the industrial infrastructure, dams, and mills for the city of Manchester, New Hampshire. He went on to serve as a Republican state legislator and was elected the 34th Governor of New Hampshire, serving two terms from 1872 to 1874.

Jack Straw (born 1946)
A prominent contemporary British political figure and senior statesman. Born John Whitaker Straw, he adopted the nickname "Jack" early in life in homage to the 1381 rebel leader. He served in the British Cabinet for over thirteen years under Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, holding major state offices including Home Secretary (1997–2001) and Foreign Secretary (2001–2006).

Search for Strawbridge on this site to find more.

About the artist

Each coat of arms in the Family Crests Store is an artwork by heraldic artist Éamonn Breathnach. All are carefully researched, drawing from the earliest available records across multiple heraldic archives. Noted for their elegance and attention to detail, these artworks make meaningful gifts for family occasions.

Product details

• High quality white ceramic mug with the Straw family crest printed two sides
• Dishwasher and microwave safe
• 15 oz mug dimensions: 4.7″ (11.9 cm) in height, 3.3″ (8.5 cm) in diameter