A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ansell family of England.
Reg. 5464 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Erm. on a fesse gu. three cresents or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Ansell Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Ansell arms are recorded
The Ansell arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Ansell arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Ansell Family in England
The surname Ansell is rooted in the ancient Germanic personal name Anselm, which translates to mean divine helmet or protection of God. By the time the name became established in England, it evolved through various spellings such as Ancell and Hansell before settling into its modern form. Historical records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the city of York by 1620. During this period, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration, suggesting that early Ansell ancestors were likely involved in the city’s active merchant guilds or local craft industries. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, living through the significant political and religious shifts that defined seventeenth-century England. Their presence in such a prominent historic city highlights a long-standing connection to the development of northern English communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hans
A Germanic diminutive form of the name John meaning God is gracious.
This name
AnsellDerived from a medieval personal name meaning God is gracious or a gift from God.
also spelled
Anscell
Ancell
Related arms
Ancellvariant spelling
Anncell, or Auncellvariant spelling
Auncellvariant spelling
Aunsellvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
