Map of England showing where the Burwell arms are recorded
The Burwell arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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 Burwell 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Burwell Family in England
The Burwell family name has deep roots in the English county of Essex, where members of the family were well-established by the early seventeenth century. The name itself is locative in origin, meaning it was likely derived from a specific place known as Burwell. In Old English, this name combines the word for a fortified place or stronghold with the word for a spring or stream. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name lived near a protected water source or a settlement built around a defensive site. By 1620, the Burwell family was already an active part of the local community in Essex, participating in the social and economic life of the region before some members eventually sought new opportunities across the Atlantic in the American colonies.
Burwell Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Burh-wella
A fortified settlement or stronghold located near a spring or stream.
This name
BurwellDerived from Old English elements referring to a dweller by the fortified spring or stream.
also spelled
Burwill
Burwille
Related arms
Boltonrecorded with Burwell, same area
Lynnrecorded with Burwell, same area
Manglesrecorded with Burwell, same area
Pitmanrecorded with Burwell, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Essex Record Office, Parish registers of the Archdeaconry of Essex, D/P series
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
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
