A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Collen family of England.
Reg. 5078 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Vert a griffin segreant or”
EssexHigh Laver · Essex, c. 1620
Where the Collen Arms Were Recorded
Essex
Map of England showing where the Collen arms are recorded
The Collen arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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 Collen 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Collen Family in England
The surname Collen is rooted in the linguistic traditions of medieval England, likely originating as a diminutive form of the name Nicholas. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Essex, where they were integrated into the local social and economic fabric. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Collen family were active participants in the life of this region, likely involved in the agricultural or merchant trades that defined the area during the Stuart period. As was common for families of that era, their history was tied closely to the land and the parish system, which served as the primary record-keeping authority for births, marriages, and deaths. Over time, the name evolved through various spellings as it was recorded by local clerks, reflecting the phonetic shifts common in the English language before standardized spelling became the norm.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Col
A diminutive form of the name Nicholas meaning victory of the people.
This name
CollenA patronymic surname derived from the son of Nicholas or a dweller by a coal pit.
also spelled
Collin
Collyn
Collenne
Related arms
Colanvariant spelling
Collinvariant spelling
Collynvariant spelling
Colynvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Essex Record Office, Parish Registers for the Archdeaconry of Essex, 1620
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griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
