A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bunnell family of England.
Reg. 3931 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. three increscents ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bunnell Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bunnell arms are recorded
The Bunnell 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 Bunnell 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 Bunnell Family in England
The Bunnell family name has deep roots in England, with historical records placing members of the family in the city of York as early as 1620. The name is generally classified as a locational or occupational surname, likely evolving from old regional dialects that described where a person lived or the specific trade they practiced. During the seventeenth century, families in northern England often moved between growing urban centers like York to find work in the textile or mercantile industries. As the family grew and shifted across the region, the spelling of the name transitioned through various forms before settling into its modern version. These early ancestors were part of a period of significant social change in England, and their presence in York suggests they were integrated into the local community life of that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bonnel
Derived from the Old French word for good or kind.
This name
BunnellA diminutive form indicating a person of good or kind nature.
also spelled
Bunnill
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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
