A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cattle family of England.
Reg. 1441 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
wolfReward from long service and hard work
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Gu. three escallop shells or, on a chief ar. a wolf pass. sa”
LancashireLancashire, c. 1620
Where the Cattle Arms Were Recorded
Lancashire
Map of England showing where the Cattle arms are recorded
The Cattle arms were recorded in Lancashire, c. 1620.
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 Cattle 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 Lancashire.
Origin & History of the Cattle Family in England
The surname Cattle is rooted in the historic county of Lancashire, where family members were firmly established by the early seventeenth century. The name likely originated as a topographical or occupational descriptor, reflecting the rural landscape and agricultural lifestyle common in Northern England during the Middle Ages. In the dialect of the region, such names often evolved from local landmarks or the specific trades practiced by ancestors who lived in small farming communities. By the year 1620, the presence of the Cattle family in Lancashire suggests they were part of the local yeomanry or tenant farming class, groups that formed the backbone of the English countryside. These early ancestors lived through a period of significant social and economic transition, helping to shape the identity of the region as they maintained their households and livelihoods across generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Catulus
Latin for a young animal, specifically a puppy or whelp.
This name
CattleAn occupational name for a keeper of cattle or a nickname for a young person.
also spelled
Cattel
Catell
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
Lancashire Archives, Bishop’s Transcripts of Parish Registers, 1620
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
wolfReward from long service and hard work
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
wolfReward from long service and hard work
