A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cecil family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0624 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
lionCourage, strength and royalty
hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“une gerbe d'or, accostée d'un lion d'arg. et d'un lion d'azur, affr., le tout soutenu d'un chapeau de tournoi de gu., retr. d'herm.”
Francec. 1570
Where the Cecil Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Cecil arms are recorded
The Cecil arms were recorded in France, c. 1570.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Charles IX of France
Sovereign of the period
Charles IX of France
1560–1574
Reigning in France when the Cecil arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Cecil Family in France
The origins of the Cecil family name in France are deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Brittany region. By the year 1570, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established within this coastal province. During this era, the name was closely associated with the social and political shifts occurring in western France as the region navigated the complexities of the French Wars of Religion. The family likely functioned as part of the local landed gentry or professional class, which allowed them to maintain a stable presence in the area despite the widespread instability of the sixteenth century. Their survival and integration into Breton society suggest that they were well-connected to the local administration and the regional economy. Over time, the family name became a recognized part of the local identity, reflecting the broader movement of families who helped shape the cultural and historical character of Brittany during the late Renaissance.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Barry of ten ar. and az. over all six escutcheons sa. three, two, and one, each charged with a lion ramp. of the first”
EnglandExeter, c. 1620
Where the Cecil Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Cecil arms are recorded
The Cecil arms were recorded in Exeter, 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 France when the Cecil 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 Cecil Family in England
The surname Cecil has deep roots in the English landscape, evolving from ancient naming traditions that often reflected a person’s place of origin or a descriptive trait. While the name gained significant prominence through powerful political figures in the south of England during the Tudor era, its presence was also firmly established in northern cities like York by the early seventeenth century. By 1620, families bearing the name were integrated into the local life of York, participating in the trade and social structures of a city that served as a vital regional hub. These early northern settlers likely navigated the complexities of a changing England, moving through a society that was transitioning from medieval customs to the more structured administrative life of the Stuart period. The persistence of the name in such records highlights how families moved across the country to establish new roots, contributing to the local history of northern England while carrying on a lineage that had long been part of the broader national story.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Caecilius
Derived from the Latin word for blind.
This name
CecilA surname originating from a Roman clan name signifying a blind person.
also spelled
Sesil
Sitsilt
Syssell
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série E: Familles, seigneuries et terres
Bourde de la Rogerie, Henri, Les Bretons aux îles de l'Amérique, 1929
Pocquet du Haut-Jussé, Barthélemy, Histoire de Bretagne, 1937
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
lionCourage, strength and royalty
hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
lionCourage, strength and royalty
hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
