A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Colan family of England.
fireZeal and purificationSir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. three torches ppr”
The Colan arms were recorded in England, 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.
Reigning in England when the Colan arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Colan carries a rich history that likely traces its roots to the ancient Celtic traditions of the British Isles. The name is often associated with the Gaelic term for a dove, which historically symbolized peace or a gentle nature. By the early seventeenth century, members of the Colan family were firmly established in the historic city of York. During this period, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration, placing the family at the heart of a rapidly changing England. Living in such a prominent urban center suggests that early ancestors were likely involved in the skilled crafts or merchant networks that defined the city’s economy. Over time, the family name became a permanent fixture in the local records of the region, reflecting their long-standing presence in the community as they navigated the social and economic shifts of the seventeenth century.
Derived from the Greek words for victory and people.
