A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Birchall family of England.
Reg. 4252 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
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. on a chev. betw. three crosses crosslet fitchée sa. as many fleurs-de-lis of the field”
GloucesterBowden Hall · Gloucester, c. 1620
Where the Birchall Arms Were Recorded
Gloucester
Map of England showing where the Birchall arms are recorded
The Birchall arms were recorded in Gloucester, c. 1620.
Gloucestershire had good farmland, a cloth trade in its valleys and a river carrying goods to Bristol. All three made money, and money bought the estates that brought arms with them.
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 Birchall 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 Gloucester.
Origin & History of the Birchall Family in England
The surname Birchall is of English origin and is classified as a locational name, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place. The name is derived from the Old English words "birce," meaning birch tree, and "halh," which refers to a nook, corner, or secluded valley. Families bearing this name likely lived near a prominent birch tree located in a small hollow or sheltered area of land. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Birchall family were well-established in the city of Gloucester. During this period, families often adopted surnames based on the geography of their ancestral homes, and the Birchall name reflects the rural landscape of early England. As these individuals moved into urban centers like Gloucester, they carried the name with them, preserving a link to the specific natural features of the countryside where their ancestors first settled.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Birce and Halh
Old English for birch tree and a nook or corner of land.
This name
BirchallA topographic name for someone who lived in a secluded corner of a birch forest.
also spelled
Byrchall
Birchel
Related arms
Birchillsame arms
Russellsimilar arms
Burchallvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Gloucestershire Archives, Records of the City of Gloucester: Burgess Rolls and Freemen's Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
