A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Carwell family of England.
Reg. 7574 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 fesse betw. three fleurs-de-lis gu”
NorfolkNorfolk, c. 1620
Where the Carwell Arms Were Recorded
Norfolk
Map of England showing where the Carwell arms are recorded
The Carwell arms were recorded in Norfolk, c. 1620.
Norfolk grew rich on wool and grain, and its wealth was spread among many middling families rather than a few great ones. Households of that kind bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Carwell 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 Norfolk.
Origin & History of the Carwell Family in England
The family name Carwell is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Norfolk, England, where records confirm the presence of family members by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a locational surname, which was a common practice in medieval England to identify individuals by the specific village or geographic feature where they resided. In the dialect of the East Anglian region, such names often evolved from Old English terms describing a "carr," meaning a low-lying marsh or a thicket of brushwood, combined with "well," referring to a spring or water source. This suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing this name were likely farmers or laborers who lived near a distinct wetland area. By the early seventeenth century, these families were well-established within the local parish structures of Norfolk, participating in the agricultural and community life that defined the rural English countryside during that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Carew
A place name derived from the Welsh word for fort or castle.
This name
CarwellA locational surname referring to someone who lived near a fortified dwelling or castle.
also spelled
Carwill
Carwall
Related arms
Carewellvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Norfolk Record Office, Parish Register Transcripts for the Diocese of Norwich
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of British Place Names, 2003
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
