A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Clove family of England.
Reg. 3303 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
camelPatience and perseverance under burden
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Or, a camel pass. betw. three cloves sa”
WiltshireWiltshire, c. 1620
Where the Clove Arms Were Recorded
Wiltshire
Map of England showing where the Clove arms are recorded
The Clove arms were recorded in Wiltshire, c. 1620.
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 Clove 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 Wiltshire.
Origin & History of the Clove Family in England
The surname Clove is deeply rooted in the rural landscapes of southern England, with historical documentation confirming the presence of the family in the county of Wiltshire by the year 1620. During this period, the name likely emerged as a topographic or occupational descriptor, as surnames often evolved from the specific environment where a family lived or the goods they traded. In the seventeenth century, Wiltshire was a hub of agricultural activity and textile production, suggesting that early ancestors were likely farmers or merchants who integrated into the local parish life. As the family established their roots in the region, they became part of the social fabric of the English countryside, living through a time of significant transition as the nation moved toward the modern era. The persistence of the name in local records from this time reflects a lineage that was firmly settled within the village communities of the West Country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Clavus
A Latin term referring to a nail or a spike.
This name
CloveAn occupational surname for a nail maker or a merchant dealing in the spice.
also spelled
Clovie
Clowe
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Wiltshire Parish Registers, 1620
Bardsley, Charles Wareing Endell, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
camelPatience and perseverance under burden
camelPatience and perseverance under burden
