A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Browell family of England.
Reg. 8501 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fusilTravail and industry
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Per fesse sa. and or, a pale counterchanged, on the first three fusils of the second”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Browell Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Browell arms are recorded
The Browell arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Browell 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 England.
Origin & History of the Browell Family in England
The surname Browell is believed to have originated in Northern England, where it likely functioned as a descriptive name for an ancestor with distinctive physical features or a specific connection to local geography. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Browell family were well-established residents of York. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families living there were often involved in the city’s guilds or local commerce. The name likely evolved from Middle English roots, reflecting the way surnames were commonly formed by combining nicknames with references to the land. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Yorkshire, contributing to the development of the region through their roles in the community and their daily labor.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brun
An Old English and Old Norse term meaning brown or dark-colored.
This name
BrowellA topographical name for someone who lived near a brown-colored spring or stream.
also spelled
Browill
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fusilTravail and industry
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fusilTravail and industry
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
