A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cavell family of England.
Reg. 9224 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bullValour and generosity
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Erm. a calf pass. gu. Hals says that the Cavells bore also "az. three sails of a ship ar." in commemoration of one of the family having been an admiral in the reign of Henry VI”
EnglandHobe, c. 1620
Where the Cavell Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Cavell arms are recorded
The Cavell arms were recorded in Hobe, 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 Cavell 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 Cavell Family in England
The family name Cavell is believed to have roots in the northern regions of England, particularly around the historic city of York. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Cavell family were already established residents in this area. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older occupational or topographic terms, often linked to people who worked with horses or lived near specific landmarks. During the seventeenth century, families in York were frequently involved in the bustling trade and craft guilds that defined the city’s economy. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the development of the region through their roles in community life and commerce. This early presence in York suggests that the Cavells were well-integrated into the local population long before the name spread to other parts of the country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
caballus
A Latin term referring to a horse or a pack animal.
This name
CavellAn occupational surname for someone who worked with horses or a nickname for a horse-like person.
also spelled
Cavill
Caval
Related arms
Cauellvariant spelling
Cavallvariant spelling
Cavillvariant spelling
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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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