A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Colling family of England.
Reg. 6417 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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, on a canton ar. a fleur-de-lis gu”
SuffolkCockleigh · Suffolk, c. 1620
Where the Colling Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Colling arms are recorded
The Colling arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Colling 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Colling Family in England
The surname Colling is rooted in the ancient naming traditions of England, where it likely originated as a patronymic or a descriptive nickname. Etymologists often link the name to the Old English personal name Cola, which suggests that the family’s ancestors were known as the descendants or followers of a man named Cola. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Suffolk. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Colling family were settled in this region during a period of significant social and economic change in rural England. Living in Suffolk at this time meant that these individuals were likely involved in the thriving local wool trade or agricultural pursuits that defined the East Anglian landscape. As the family grew and moved, they helped carry the name across the region, leaving a lasting mark on the local history of the area.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cola
A short form of the Old English name Nicholas meaning victory of people.
This name
CollingA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Col or Nicholas.
also spelled
Collyng
Culling
Collyngs
Related arms
Colelingvariant spelling
Collyngs, or Collynsvariant spelling
Cullingvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Suffolk Archives, Parish Registers of Suffolk, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
