A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arling family of England.
Reg. 8783 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
vairProtection, and the winter fur
bordureA difference between branches of one family
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 vair, in chief a unicorn courant betw. two mullets and a bordure engr. or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Arling Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Arling arms are recorded
The Arling 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 Arling 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 Arling Family in England
The surname Arling finds its roots in the historical landscape of Northern England, with documented evidence placing the family in the city of York by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a topographic or locational descriptor, derived from Old English roots that suggest a connection to a specific meadow or cleared land near a river. During the early seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religious activity, and families like the Arlings were often involved in the local merchant guilds or skilled crafts that defined the city’s economy. As the family established itself in this region, they became part of the social fabric of Yorkshire, living through a period of significant political and religious change in England. Their presence in the city records from this era indicates that they were settled, tax-paying members of the community who contributed to the growth and daily life of one of England’s most historic urban centers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Erlingr
Old Norse name meaning nobleman or son of a nobleman.
This name
ArlingDerived from a locative surname referring to people from the settlement of the earl's people.
also spelled
Arlyn
Arlyng
Related arms
Dublin, Archbishop ofsimilar arms
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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
bordureA difference between branches of one family
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bordureA difference between branches of one family
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
