A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Colls family of England.
Reg. 7472 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. on a chief indented ar. three annulets of the field”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Colls Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Colls arms are recorded
The Colls 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 Colls 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 Colls Family in England
The surname Colls is primarily rooted in the northern regions of England, with significant historical ties to the city of York. By the early 17th century, the family was well-established in this area, as evidenced by records confirming their presence in York by 1620. The name itself is generally considered a patronymic, meaning it evolved from a shortened version of the personal name Nicholas. During the medieval period, it was common for people to adopt a nickname derived from a father’s given name to distinguish themselves within a growing population. As the family settled in York, they likely participated in the local trade and civic life that defined the city during the Stuart era. Over time, the spelling transitioned from various phonetic forms into the modern version of Colls, reflecting the linguistic shifts common in northern English dialects.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Nicholas
Victory of the people derived from Greek words for victory and people.
This name
CollsA patronymic surname meaning son of Coll, a medieval diminutive form of Nicholas.
also spelled
Colles
Collas
Cole
Colle
Collee
Related arms
Colevariant spelling
Colesvariant spelling
Collasvariant spelling
Collevariant spelling
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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Records: Parish Registers of York, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
