A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cornhill family of England.
Reg. 0135 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. a sinister arm issuing out of the dexter chief point, and extended towards the sinister base in bend gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Cornhill Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Cornhill arms are recorded
The Cornhill 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 Cornhill 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 Cornhill Family in England
The surname Cornhill is a locational name, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name likely refers to someone who lived near a hill where grain was grown, as the word combines the Old English terms for corn and hill. By the early 17th century, members of the Cornhill family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and administration in Northern England, and families living there were often involved in the bustling mercantile life of the city. As the family settled into urban life, they became part of the local community, leaving records of their presence in parish registers and legal documents that track their movement and growth throughout the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Corn and Hyll
Old English words for a horn-shaped piece of land and a hill.
This name
CornhillA topographical name for someone who lived near a hill shaped like a horn or a corner.
also spelled
Cornhulle
Cornhyll
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
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Archive: 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
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
