A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Benwell family of England.
Reg. 1405 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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. six pellets, three, two, and one”
OxfordLondon · Oxford, c. 1765
Where the Benwell Arms Were Recorded
Oxford
Map of England showing where the Benwell arms are recorded
The Benwell arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1765.
Oxfordshire was farming country with the university at its centre, and both produced families of standing. Scholars and lawyers who did well bought manors nearby, and holding a manor was the ordinary route 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 England in this period.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1760–1801
Reigning in England when the Benwell 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 Oxford.
Origin & History of the Benwell Family in England
The surname Benwell is a locative name, meaning it originally identified people who lived near a specific geographic feature or settlement. The name is derived from the Old English words "benn," meaning grass or reeds, and "wella," meaning a spring or stream, suggesting the family’s earliest ancestors likely lived near a grassy spring. While the name has roots in northern England, by the mid-18th century, the family had established a notable presence in Oxford. Records confirm that members of the Benwell family were living in Oxford by 1765, where they often integrated into the local trades and the academic life of the city. As the family grew, they became well-regarded members of the community, contributing to the historical fabric of the region through their professional work and civic involvement.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bean-well
Old English words for a bean field and a water spring.
This name
BenwellA topographic name for someone who lived near a spring located by a bean field.
also spelled
Benwill
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, 1997
Oxfordshire History Centre, Parish Registers for the City of Oxford, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
