A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Collings family of England.
Reg. 3619 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fireZeal and purification
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. three torches or, enflamed ppr”
DevonBarnshill · Devon, c. 1620
Where the Collings Arms Were Recorded
Devon
Map of England showing where the Collings arms are recorded
The Collings arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought 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 Collings 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Collings Family in England
The surname Collings is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son or descendant of someone named Colin. This name was a common diminutive form of Nicholas, a popular choice throughout England during the Middle Ages. By the time the family was firmly established in the county of Devon by 1620, the name had become a stable identifier for local families who were often involved in farming or trade. Living in the rugged landscape of the West Country, these early ancestors were part of a regional community that relied heavily on agriculture and maritime connections. Over several generations, the spelling of the name evolved from early variations into the modern form of Collings, reflecting the way local clerks recorded names based on how they sounded in the Devon dialect.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Nicholas
Derived from the Greek name Nikolaos meaning victory of the people.
This name
CollingsA patronymic surname meaning son of Colin, which is a diminutive form of Nicholas.
also spelled
Collyngs
Coling
Related arms
Colingvariant spelling
Collyngs, or Collynsvariant 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 English Surnames, 1958
Devon Heritage Centre, Parish Register Transcripts for Devon, 1600–1650
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fireZeal and purification
fireZeal and purification
