A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Carlyon family of England.
Reg. 7372 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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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. a chev. enhanced ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Carlyon Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Carlyon arms are recorded
The Carlyon 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 Carlyon 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 Carlyon Family in England
The Carlyon family name is deeply rooted in the history of Cornwall, where it originated as a locative surname derived from the manor of Carlyon in the parish of St. Minver. The name itself comes from the Cornish words "kar," meaning a fort or camp, and "lyn," meaning a pool or lake. While the family established a strong presence in the southwestern tip of England over many centuries, their influence eventually spread across the country. By 1620, records confirm that members of the family had settled in the historic city of York. This migration suggests that the family was involved in the trade, administration, or religious life of northern England during the early seventeenth century. These early ancestors helped transition the name from a local Cornish identifier into a broader English family lineage.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Caer Leon
Fortress of the legion or city of the legion.
This name
CarlyonDerived from a Cornish place name referring to a fortified settlement or Roman military camp.
also spelled
Carlion
Carleon
Carlioun
Related arms
Casselssimilar arms
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Padel, O.J., A Popular Dictionary of Cornish Place-Names, 1988
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, PROB 11
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