Many monumental brasses, especially those from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, show family groups. On these brasses children are depicted as miniature adults, often beside or behind their parents. Many of these brasses depict large family groups and sometimes the occupations the children achieved as adults are shown through their costume, such as clerical or monastic dress. Unmarried daughters can also be shown with loose hair, although the meaning of loose hair can be problematic (see woman on brasses page). These accompanying figures are known as ‘weepers’ and are often presented with groups of males on the left and females on the right. Their size may also vary according to age; the younger children being smaller.

This brass is of John and Jane Eyston with their five children,dated 1589. The brass is in East Hendred church, Oxfordshire (formerly Berkshire)

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This is the brass of Rauffe Horwoode, his wives Elizabeth and Jane and his six children, dated 1498. The brass is in Abbots Langley church, Hertfordshire.

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Brasses were also used to commemorate children in their own right. Sometimes the child is placed on a pedestal. However the size and costume of brasses to children can be misleading as to age at death. Children are also depicted as chrysoms and infants in cradles.