Map of England showing where the Cheatle arms are recorded
The Cheatle arms were recorded in Wighorn, 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 Cheatle 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 Cheatle Family in England
The surname Cheatle is a topographical name that likely originated from individuals living near a specific geographical feature or a small settlement. While the exact linguistic roots are debated, the name appears to be linked to the Midlands and Northern England, where families began to establish themselves during the late medieval and early modern periods. By 1620, records confirm that members of the Cheatle family were well-settled in the city of York. During this time, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families like the Cheatles were often involved in the local merchant guilds or skilled crafts that kept the city running. As the family grew, they moved into various roles within the community, transitioning from rural origins to becoming part of the urban fabric of northern English society. This early presence in York suggests that the family was stable and integrated into the local economy long before the industrial changes of later centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Chetel
An Old English personal name derived from the Old Norse Ketill.
This name
CheatleA habitational surname originating from a place associated with a person named Ketill.
also spelled
Chetell
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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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
