A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Avan family of Wales.
Reg. 1760 · Welsh, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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. on a bend gu. an annulet or (another, three annulets)”
Walesc. 1647
Where the Avan Arms Were Recorded
Denbigh
Map of Wales showing where the Avan arms are recorded
The Avan arms were recorded in Wales, c. 1647.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Denbigh.
Denbighshire was north Welsh country of hills and small estates. Land was held by a great many families rather than a few, and each holding brought its own claim to a coat of 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 Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Wales when the Avan arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Wales.
Origin & History of the Avan Family in Wales
The family name Avan has deep roots in the market town of Denbigh, Wales, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1647. During this period, Denbigh was a bustling center of trade and local government, situated near the impressive ruins of a medieval castle. Families in this region often derived their surnames from local geography, personal traits, or ancestral occupations, and the name Avan likely evolved from these linguistic traditions within the Welsh borderlands. By the mid-seventeenth century, the Avan family was part of a community navigating the social and economic shifts of the post-Civil War era in Britain. Their presence in Denbigh suggests they were integrated into the local parish life and the agricultural or mercantile activities that defined the town during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Afon
A Welsh word meaning river or flowing water.
This name
AvanA topographical surname referring to someone who lived near a river.
also spelled
Aven
Avon
Related arms
Aven, or Averyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
