A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arundel family of England.
Reg. 0289 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Sa. six swallows ar. three, two, and one, quartering Harris (for which see that name)”
CornwallHarris-Arundel · Cornwall, c. 1620
Where the Arundel Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Arundel arms are recorded
The Arundel arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms with it.
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 Arundel 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 Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Arundel Family in England
The surname Arundel has deep roots in the history of England, with the family establishing a significant presence in Cornwall by the early seventeenth century. The name itself is locative, meaning it was originally taken from a place rather than an occupation or a personal trait. It is widely believed to be derived from the town of Arundel in West Sussex, which sits near the River Arun. Over many generations, members of the family migrated from these southern regions toward the rugged landscapes of the Cornish peninsula. By the year 1620, the Arundels were well-integrated into Cornish society, where they became influential figures in local land management and community affairs. Their movement across the country reflects the broader patterns of English migration during the medieval and early modern periods, as families sought new opportunities and expanded their estates in the western counties.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hirundo
Latin term for a swallow bird.
This name
ArundelDerived from a place name in Sussex meaning valley of the swallows.
also spelled
Arondell
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
Vivian, J.L., The Visitations of Cornwall: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1530, 1573, & 1620, 1887
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
