A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Charnell family of England.
Reg. 4206 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Az. a cross engr. or”
LeicesterLeicester, c. 1620
Where the Charnell Arms Were Recorded
Leicester
Map of England showing where the Charnell arms are recorded
The Charnell arms were recorded in Leicester, c. 1620.
Leicestershire was grazing country, and wool and cattle made steady money rather than spectacular fortunes. Steady money bought manors, and manors are what brought families into the registers.
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 Charnell 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 Leicester.
Origin & History of the Charnell Family in England
The family name Charnell is deeply rooted in the history of Leicestershire, where members of the family were well-established by the early seventeenth century. The name likely originated as a locative surname, which means it was used to identify people based on the specific place where they lived or held land. During the 1600s, families in this region were often connected to the local agricultural economy and the growing influence of the English gentry. By 1620, the Charnell family was documented as a recognized presence in Leicester, suggesting they had already spent generations building their reputation within the community. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the English Midlands, living through a period of significant political and religious change. Their early history reflects the typical movement and settlement patterns of families who helped shape the local identity of Leicester during the Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Charnel
Derived from the Old French word for a burial ground or ossuary.
This name
CharnellHistorically used as a topographic name for someone living near a cemetery or charnel house.
also spelled
Charnill
Charnoll
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Nichols, John, The History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester, 1795
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
