A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Carnell family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9592 · Irish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“A cross engr. ar. in the first quarter a crescent of the last”
Irelandc. 1645
Where the Carnell Arms Were Recorded
Dublin
Map of Ireland showing where the Carnell arms are recorded
The Carnell arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Carnell arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Carnell Family in Ireland
The history of the Carnell name in Ireland is deeply connected to the shifting political landscape of the seventeenth century. Records confirm that members of the Carnell family were established in Dublin by 1645, a period defined by the intense turmoil of the Irish Confederate Wars. During this era, Dublin served as a critical hub for families navigating the transition between older Gaelic structures and the expanding influence of the English administration. The presence of the family in the city suggests they were likely involved in the urban trades or the administrative life of the capital, as Dublin acted as the primary gateway for commerce and governance. Over the following decades, the Carnells became part of the diverse social fabric of the city, surviving the political upheavals of the Cromwellian era and the later Williamite wars. Their early residency in Dublin highlights how families of this name integrated into the developing civic identity of the Irish capital during a transformative time in national history.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
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. a bend sinister cotised sa. on a canton of the last a castle of the first”
KentKent, c. 1620
Where the Carnell Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Carnell arms are recorded
The Carnell arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Ireland when the Carnell 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Carnell Family in England
The surname Carnell has deep roots in the English county of Kent, where records confirm the family was well-established by the early seventeenth century. The name likely evolved as a descriptive term or a locative identifier, reflecting the way people were identified in rural communities before standardized spelling became common. During the 1600s, families in Kent were often tied to the local agricultural economy, living in small parishes where church registers began to track births, marriages, and deaths with greater consistency. By 1620, the Carnell name was already part of the social fabric of the region, suggesting that ancestors had likely lived in the area for several generations prior to appearing in these formal documents. As the family grew, they participated in the typical life of the English countryside, contributing to the local workforce and the development of their specific parish communities during a time of significant social change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Carn
A heap of stones or a rocky mound.
This name
CarnellDerived from a topographical location referring to someone living near a cairn or rocky hill.
also spelled
Carnill
Carnille
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 1985
National Archives of Ireland. Civil Survey of the County of Dublin. 1654
Royal Irish Academy. A New History of Ireland, Volume III: Early Modern Ireland 1534–1691. 1976
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
