A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Coates family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 6288 · Irish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Or, a cross az. voided of the field, bezantée”
Irelandc. 1645
Where the Coates Arms Were Recorded
Dublin
Map of Ireland showing where the Coates arms are recorded
The Coates arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Coates arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Coates Family in Ireland
The history of the Coates family in Ireland is deeply connected to the social and political changes of the seventeenth century. By 1645, records confirm that members of the family were already established in Dublin, which was a bustling center of trade and administration at the time. During this period, many families with this name arrived from England as part of the broader migration patterns that reshaped Irish urban centers. These early settlers often integrated into the professional and merchant classes of the city. They participated in the local economy and helped build the infrastructure of a growing colonial capital. Over the following decades, the family name became more widespread as individuals moved from the capital into other parts of the country to manage land or pursue new business opportunities. Their presence in Dublin during the mid-1600s marks the beginning of a long history of the family contributing to the development of Irish society.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. a greyhound statant within an orle of roses ar”
RadnorWhitton · Radnor, c. 1647
Where the Coates Arms Were Recorded
Radnor
Map of Wales showing where the Coates arms are recorded
The Coates arms were recorded in Radnor, c. 1647.
Radnorshire was empty mid-Welsh hill country, the least populated county in Wales. Its few landed families held their ground for centuries, and long holding brought 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 Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Coates arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Radnor.
Origin & History of the Coates Family in Wales
The family name Coates has deep roots in the Welsh borderlands, particularly within the historic county of Radnorshire. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family was well-established in this rugged landscape, as evidenced by records confirming their presence in the region by 1647. During this era, the surname likely functioned as a topographic identifier, distinguishing individuals who lived near specific shelters or small enclosures common to the Welsh hills. Because Radnorshire served as a cultural crossroads between England and Wales, the Coates family lived in a society that was rapidly transitioning through political and social upheaval. Their early presence in these rural parishes suggests they were likely engaged in the pastoral farming and sheep rearing that defined the local economy for generations. As they settled into these communities, the family became part of the enduring fabric of the Welsh Marches, maintaining their ties to the land long before the industrial changes of later centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cote
Old French word for a shelter, hut, or small cottage.
This name
CoatesRefers to a person who lived in or worked at a small cottage or shelter.
also spelled
Coats
Cotes
Related arms
Coatsvariant spelling
Cotesvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Dublin, 1654–1656
Royal Irish Academy, A Census of Ireland, circa 1659, 1939
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
