A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bella family of England.
Reg. 0152 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. three pellets, and a chief engr. sa”
HuntingdonGreat Paxton · Huntingdon, c. 1602
Where the Bella Arms Were Recorded
Huntingdon
Map of England showing where the Bella arms are recorded
The Bella arms were recorded in Huntingdon, c. 1602.
Huntingdonshire was small, flat fen-edge country. Drainage made new farmland and new fortunes, and families who gained by it bought manors and took arms to match.
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 Bella 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 Huntingdon.
Origin & History of the Bella Family in England
The surname Bella carries a rich history that likely stems from the descriptive Italian or Latin word for beautiful. While the name is often associated with Mediterranean roots, records confirm that members of the Bella family were firmly established in the English town of Huntingdon by 1602. During this period, Huntingdon was a bustling market town where families often earned their living through trade, agriculture, or local crafts. The presence of the family in this specific region suggests they were part of the growing middle class that helped shape the local economy and social structure of the seventeenth century. As they settled into the community, the family name became a permanent part of the town’s historical record, marking their transition into the fabric of English life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bellus
A Latin adjective meaning beautiful, handsome, or fair.
This name
BellaDerived from a nickname for a beautiful or handsome person.
also spelled
Bell
Belle
Bel
Related arms
Bellvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
