A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Austell family of England.
Reg. 7479 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ar. a saltire raguly gu”
CornwallEdward III · Cornwall, c. 1620
Where the Austell Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Austell arms are recorded
The Austell 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 Austell 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 Austell Family in England
The surname Austell is deeply rooted in the history of Cornwall, a rugged peninsula in the far southwest of England. The name is locative in origin, meaning it was likely adopted by families living near or originating from the parish of Saint Austell. This town was named after a sixth-century saint who traveled from Brittany to spread Christianity across the region. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Austell family were well-established residents of Cornwall, living in a landscape defined by tin mining and maritime trade. During this period, the family would have been part of a close-knit community that maintained distinct Cornish customs and traditions. As the centuries progressed, the name remained closely tied to the geography of the area, reflecting the strong connection between the people and the ancient landscape of the Cornish coast.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Augustus
Derived from the Latin word meaning venerable, majestic, or noble.
This name
AustellA locative surname originating from the town of St. Austell in Cornwall, meaning Saint Austol.
also spelled
Astel
Astell
Related arms
Astellvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Padel, O.J., A Popular Dictionary of Cornish Place-Names, 1988
Tangye, Michael, St Austell: The History of a Cornish Town, 1985
Kresen Kernow, Parish Records for St Austell, series P/8/1/1
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
