Map of England showing where the Borrelli arms are recorded
The Borrelli arms were recorded in Middlesex, c. 1663.
Middlesex was the county around London, and City money flowed straight into it. Merchants and officials bought estates within reach of the capital, and a new estate brought a coat of 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.
Charles II of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of England
1660–1685
Reigning in England when the Borrelli 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 Middlesex.
Origin & History of the Borrelli Family in England
The surname Borrelli is rooted in the Italian language, originating as a diminutive form of the name Borrello, which itself likely stems from the ancient Germanic word *bur*, meaning a small dwelling or hut. While the name is deeply connected to the regions of Southern Italy, such as Campania and Calabria, members of the family were already established in England by the mid-seventeenth century. Records confirm that individuals bearing the Borrelli name were present in Middlesex as early as 1663. This suggests that the family was part of the early waves of migration that brought continental European names into the British Isles during the Restoration period. Over time, the family integrated into local communities, moving from their Mediterranean origins to become a part of the diverse social fabric of London and its surrounding areas.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Borellus
A Latin diminutive form derived from the word for reddish brown.
This name
BorrelliAn occupational or descriptive name referring to someone with reddish-brown hair or complexion.
also spelled
Burrell
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
London Metropolitan Archives. Church of England Parish Registers, 1538–1812
National Archives. State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1663
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