A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bill family of England.
Reg. 0244 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Az. three griffins' heads erased ar”
CornwallSaltash · Cornwall, c. 1620
Where the Bill Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Bill arms are recorded
The Bill arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Bill 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 Bill Family in England
The surname Bill has deep roots in the rugged landscape of Cornwall, where members of the family were firmly established by the early 17th century. The name itself is likely a shortened form of the name William, which was a very popular choice in England following the Norman Conquest. In the medieval period, people often adopted nicknames or shortened versions of formal names to distinguish themselves within small village communities. By the time the family appeared in Cornish records in 1620, they were part of a society defined by tin mining, fishing, and close-knit parish life. These early ancestors lived through a time of great social change in the West Country, contributing to the local economy and the unique cultural identity of the Cornish people. Over generations, the name became a permanent fixture in the region, reflecting a long history of settlement in the coastal towns and rural hamlets of the peninsula.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wilhelm
Germanic name composed of elements meaning will, desire, and helmet, protection.
This name
BillA diminutive form of William, signifying a resolute protector or strong-willed guardian.
also spelled
Byll
Bylle
Related arms
Byllvariant spelling
Webbrecorded with Bill, same area
Wellesrecorded with Bill, same area
Willsrecorded with Bill, same area
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
Cornwall Archives, Parish Registers of Cornwall, 1600–1650
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
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griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
