Map of England showing where the Cearbhaill arms are recorded
The Cearbhaill arms were recorded in England, 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 Cearbhaill 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 Cearbhaill Family in England
The name Cearbhaill is of ancient Gaelic origin, rooted in the Irish language and historically associated with the province of Munster. The name is derived from the personal name Cearbhall, which likely signifies a warrior or a fierce fighter. While the family name has deep roots in Ireland, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the city of York by 1620. During this period, families often moved across the Irish Sea due to shifting political landscapes and the search for new economic opportunities in northern England. By settling in York, these early ancestors integrated into a bustling trade hub, adapting their traditional Gaelic identity to the social structures of seventeenth-century England while maintaining the legacy of their ancestral name.
Cearbhaill Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Cearbhall
Derived from the Gaelic word for a battle or a conflict.
This name
CearbhaillA surname of Irish origin meaning fierce in battle or warlike.
also spelled
Carbell
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Woulfe, Patrick. Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames. 1923
York City Archives, York Freemen’s Register, 1272–1759
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
