A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chettle family of England.
Reg. 8469 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 hind pass. ar”
SuffolkSuffolk, c. 1620
Where the Chettle Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Chettle arms are recorded
The Chettle arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Chettle 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Chettle Family in England
The surname Chettle is believed to have originated in England as a topographic or habitational name, likely derived from Old English roots describing a specific type of terrain or a small settlement. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Suffolk, where records confirm their residence by 1620. During this era, families with this name were often involved in local agriculture and trade, contributing to the development of rural parishes across East Anglia. As the name spread through the region, it became associated with the distinct social and economic life of the English countryside. The persistence of the name in parish registers from this period suggests that the Chettle family was well-integrated into the local community, serving as a steady thread in the historical fabric of Suffolk during a time of significant social change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ceotel
An Old English diminutive form of the name Ceatta.
This name
ChettleA habitational name derived from a small valley or a settlement belonging to Ceatta.
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
Suffolk Archives, Ipswich Branch, Parish Registers of Suffolk, 1620
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stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
