A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Colclough family of England.
Reg. 5149 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. five eaglets displ. in cross sa”
StaffordBluerton · Stafford, c. 1367
Where the Colclough Arms Were Recorded
Stafford
Map of England showing where the Colclough arms are recorded
The Colclough arms were recorded in Stafford, c. 1367.
Staffordshire was mixed country of moorland, farmland and early ironworking. Its landed families were spread widely rather than concentrated, and each holding brought its own claim to 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.
Edward III of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward III of England
1327–1377
Reigning in England when the Colclough 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 Stafford.
Origin & History of the Colclough Family in England
The Colclough family name originated in the Staffordshire region of England, where the family established deep roots by the middle of the fourteenth century. Historical records confirm that members of the family were present in the area as early as 1367, likely taking their name from a specific plot of land or a geographical feature known as a col-clough, which translates to a cold ravine or valley. Over the following generations, the family rose in local prominence by acquiring significant landholdings and participating in the administration of the county. By settling in this specific part of the English Midlands, they became closely tied to the development of the local landscape and the social structure of the region during the late Middle Ages.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Col-clough
A combination of a personal name and a ravine or valley.
This name
ColcloughDerived from a topographical location referring to a cold or charcoal-burner's ravine or valley.
also spelled
Colclow
Colcleugh
Colclowe
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Staffordshire Record Office, Staffordshire Quarter Sessions Rolls, 1367
Wedgwood, Josiah C., Staffordshire Parliamentary History from the Earliest Times to the Present Day, 1919
Collections for a History of Staffordshire, Staffordshire Historical Collections, 1880
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
