A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arkell family of England.
Reg. 7003 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Gu. a fesse embattled counter-embattled ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Arkell Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Arkell arms are recorded
The Arkell 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 Arkell 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 Arkell Family in England
The surname Arkell is believed to have originated as a patronymic name, which means it was derived from the first name of an ancestor. Etymologists often trace the root of the name to the Old Norse personal name Arnketill, a combination of the words for eagle and sacrificial cauldron. By the time the family was firmly established in York in 1620, the name had evolved through several spellings as it moved from oral tradition into written parish registers. During the seventeenth century, families in Northern England were often deeply tied to their local parishes, and the Arkells were no exception. Their presence in York suggests they were part of the growing urban middle class during a period of significant social change in England. As the family grew, they helped anchor the name within the region, ensuring that the Arkell lineage remained a consistent part of the local historical record for generations to come.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Arnketill
Old Norse name composed of elements meaning eagle and sacrificial cauldron.
This name
ArkellDerived from a patronymic name signifying the descendant of a person named Arnketill.
also spelled
Arkle
Arkill
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Archives: Parish Registers of York St. Martin-cum-Gregory, 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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
