A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Averill family of England.
Reg. 1889 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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 cross fleury erm. charged in chief with a buck's head of the field”
WorcesterBroadway · Worcester, c. 1602
Where the Averill Arms Were Recorded
Worcester
Map of England showing where the Averill arms are recorded
The Averill arms were recorded in Worcester, c. 1602.
Worcestershire was orchard and farming country with a scattering of old manors. Its gentry were middling rather than great, but a manor was a manor, and holding one was what brought 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Averill 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 Worcester.
Origin & History of the Averill Family in England
The surname Averill is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England, evolving from the Old English personal name Eoforhild. This name combines the words for a wild boar and a battle, suggesting that early ancestors were viewed as fierce or courageous individuals. By the time the name appeared in official records in Worcester in 1602, it had become a hereditary family name passed down through generations. During this period, families in Worcester were often tied to the local wool trade or agricultural work, which helped them establish deep roots in the community. As the name spread across the region, it underwent various spelling changes, yet it remained a distinct identifier for those who carried it. These early members of the family helped shape the local history of the area long before many of their descendants eventually traveled to the American colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eoforhild
Derived from Old English elements meaning boar and battle.
This name
AverillA name signifying a warrior who possesses the strength or ferocity of a wild boar.
also spelled
Averell
Averel
Related arms
Averellvariant spelling
Dastonrecorded with Averill, same area
Hodgesrecorded with Averill, same area
Sambachrecorded with Averill, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service, Parish Registers of St. Swithun, Worcester, 1602
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
cross symbolChristian faith and service
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
