A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Carsen family of England.
Reg. 4413 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Sa. a goat ar. attired or”
CornwallBokelly · Cornwall, c. 1620
Where the Carsen Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Carsen arms are recorded
The Carsen 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 Carsen 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 Carsen Family in England
The family name Carsen has deep roots in the rugged landscape of Cornwall, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. During this period, the name was likely linked to the local geography or the specific occupations of those living in the southwestern corner of England. Families in Cornwall at this time often relied on tin mining, fishing, or small-scale farming to survive, and the Carsen name likely emerged as a way to identify these individuals within their tight-knit coastal communities. As the seventeenth century progressed, the family became part of the unique cultural identity of the region, which was shaped by its distinct language and relative isolation from the rest of the country. By remaining in Cornwall, the early Carsens helped build the foundation for the generations that followed, contributing to the local history of a region defined by its harsh cliffs and strong maritime traditions.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Car
A Celtic term referring to a marsh, bog, or fortified place.
This name
CarsenSon of Carr, derived from a topographical feature or a nickname for a marsh dweller.
also spelled
Carson
Carsin
Carssin
Related arms
Carsonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Polsue, Joseph, A Complete Parochial History of the County of Cornwall, 1867
Cornwall Archives, Quarter Sessions Rolls, 1620
Rowse, A.L., Tudor Cornwall: Portrait of a Society, 1941
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
