A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chadwell family of England.
Reg. 1660 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
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)
“Ar. a fesse dancettée az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Chadwell Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Chadwell arms are recorded
The Chadwell 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 Chadwell 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 Chadwell Family in England
The surname Chadwell is rooted in the landscape of England, originating as a topographic name for people who lived near a cold spring or a chalky well. The name is derived from the Old English words "ceald," meaning cold, and "wielle," meaning a spring or stream. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Chadwell family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, families often took their surnames from the specific geographic features of their home villages or local landmarks. As these individuals moved through the region, the name served as a permanent link to the specific water sources that defined their ancestral homes. This naming tradition helped historians track the movement of families as they transitioned from rural areas into the growing urban centers of seventeenth-century England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ceadda and wella
Old English personal name Ceadda combined with a water spring or stream.
This name
ChadwellRefers to a settlement or dwelling located near a spring associated with Saint Chad.
also spelled
Chadwill
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
