A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Carlow family of England.
Reg. 2947 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. on a chev. betw. three leopards' heads sa. as many annulets of the first”
EnglandHolbeach, c. 1620
Where the Carlow Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Carlow arms are recorded
The Carlow arms were recorded in Holbeach, 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 Carlow 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 Carlow Family in England
The surname Carlow likely originated as a locative name, meaning it was used to identify individuals based on the place where they lived or originated. Historical evidence confirms that members of the Carlow family were established in the city of York by the year 1620. During this period, York was a significant center for trade and administration in Northern England, and families living there were often involved in the merchant guilds or local craft industries. The name itself may be linked to the town of Carlow in Ireland, suggesting that early ancestors might have migrated across the Irish Sea to settle in Yorkshire. As these individuals integrated into the local community, they became part of the social and economic fabric of seventeenth-century England, leaving behind records of their daily lives, marriages, and business dealings in parish registers and municipal documents.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ceatharlach
A place of four lakes or a four-lake settlement.
This name
CarlowDerived from the Irish place name referring to a town located on the River Barrow.
also spelled
Carloe
Related arms
Farmerrecorded with Carlow, same area
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
