Map of England showing where the Burell arms are recorded
The Burell 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 Burell 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 Burell Family in England
The family name Burell is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname. The name is derived from the Old French word "burel," which referred to a coarse, reddish-brown woolen cloth. People who wore or manufactured this sturdy fabric were often identified by this term, and it eventually became a hereditary surname as families settled in specific regions. By the early 17th century, the Burell family had established a notable presence in the rugged county of Cornwall. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the family were active in the local community during this period, likely participating in the agricultural or maritime industries that defined life in the Cornish peninsula. This early documentation suggests that the family was well-integrated into the social and economic fabric of the region long before the modern era.
Burell Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Burel
Old French term for a coarse reddish-brown woolen cloth.
This name
BurellA nickname for someone who wore garments made of coarse brown fabric.
also spelled
Burrill
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Cornwall Archives, Parish Registers of Cornwall, 1620
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
