A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Colwell family of England.
Reg. 5151 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. three chevs. sa. each charged with five bezants”
KentKent, c. 1620
Where the Colwell Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Colwell arms are recorded
The Colwell arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 Colwell 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Colwell Family in England
The surname Colwell is a locative name, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the Old English words "col," meaning cool, and "well," meaning a spring or stream. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived near a cold water source or a well-known spring in the English countryside. By the year 1620, records confirm that the Colwell family had established a significant presence in the county of Kent. During this period, families often settled in specific regions for generations, working as farmers or tradespeople who identified themselves by the landscape features near their homes. As these individuals moved or expanded their households, the name traveled with them, eventually becoming a permanent family identifier that linked them back to their ancestral roots in the English landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cold-well
Old English words for cold and a spring or stream.
This name
ColwellDerived from a locational surname referring to someone living near a cold spring.
also spelled
Colwill
Colwille
Colwall
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
Kent Archives, Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury Wills, 1620
Hasted, Edward, The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent, 1797
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
