A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arkinstall family of England.
Reg. 5090 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“(Cambridgeshire). Erm. a fesse betw. three martlets sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Arkinstall Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Arkinstall arms are recorded
The Arkinstall 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 Arkinstall 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 Arkinstall Family in England
The surname Arkinstall is a locational name that likely originated from a specific place in England. While the exact geographical roots are debated, the name has been firmly established in the historical record for centuries. By the year 1620, members of the family were documented as residents of York, a city with a long and significant history in northern England. During this period, the family would have lived through a time of great transition as the country moved toward the English Civil War. Because the name is relatively rare, it is probable that early bearers were connected to the local trade or agricultural life of the Yorkshire region. Over time, the family spread from these northern roots to other parts of the country, maintaining the name as a distinct link to their ancestral past.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Arnkell
Old Norse name meaning eagle cauldron or eagle sacrificial vessel.
This name
ArkinstallA locative surname derived from a place associated with the descendants of Arnkell.
also spelled
Arkinstale
Arkinstill
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 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
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
