A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Coldwell family of England.
Reg. 3198 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
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 cross moline ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Coldwell Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Coldwell arms are recorded
The Coldwell 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Coldwell 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 England.
Origin & History of the Coldwell Family in England
The surname Coldwell is a topographical name, meaning it was originally used to describe people who lived near a cold spring or a cool stream. The name comes from the Old English words "cald," meaning cold, and "wielle," meaning a spring or well. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Coldwell family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and religious life in Northern England. Families living in the city at that time often worked as skilled craftspeople or merchants who helped maintain the local economy. Because the name was tied to specific natural features of the landscape, it likely emerged in several different parts of England independently as people moved and settled near reliable water sources.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ceald wella
Old English for cold and a spring or stream.
This name
ColdwellA topographic name for someone who lived near a cold spring or stream.
also spelled
Coldwill
Coldwall
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
