A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bevill family of England.
Reg. 0664 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bullValour and generosity
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 bull pass. gu. armed and tripped or”
CornwallGwarnack · Cornwall, c. 1381
Where the Bevill Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Bevill arms are recorded
The Bevill arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1381.
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.
Richard II of England
Sovereign of the period
Richard II of England
1377–1399
Reigning in England when the Bevill 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 Bevill Family in England
The surname Bevill is deeply rooted in the history of Cornwall, where members of the family were firmly established by the late fourteenth century. The name is believed to have originated from the French place name Beauville, which translates to beautiful town. During the medieval period, many families migrated across the English Channel, bringing their ancestral names with them as they settled into new communities. By 1381, records indicate that the Bevill family had become significant figures within the Cornish landscape, often serving in local administrative roles and managing landed estates. Their presence in the region during this time suggests they were well-integrated into the social and economic fabric of southwest England, helping to shape the local history of the area for generations to come.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Beauville
Derived from the Old French words for beautiful and town or settlement.
This name
BevillA locational surname originating from various places in Normandy meaning beautiful town.
also spelled
Bevile
Beavill
Bevyle
Related arms
Beavillvariant spelling
Beivillvariant spelling
Bevellvariant spelling
Bevilevariant 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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Poll Tax returns for Cornwall, 1381
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bullValour and generosity
bullValour and generosity
