Map of England showing where the Cotilla arms are recorded
The Cotilla 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 Cotilla 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 Cotilla Family in England
The family name Cotilla possesses a distinct history that likely traces its roots to the linguistic shifts occurring in Northern England during the early seventeenth century. Records confirm that members of the family were established in York by 1620, a period when the city served as a vital hub for trade and regional administration. During this era, families often settled in urban centers to participate in the growing merchant class or specialized craft guilds. The name itself may have evolved from local topographical descriptions or occupational nicknames common to the Yorkshire region at the time. As these early ancestors navigated the social and economic landscape of York, they helped solidify the presence of the name within the local community, leaving behind a legacy that reflects the broader patterns of migration and family growth in Stuart-era England.
Cotilla Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Cote
A small shelter, hut, or cottage used for housing livestock.
This name
CotillaDerived from a topographic descriptor for someone who lived near a small cottage or hut.
also spelled
Cotele
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Archives: Parish Registers of York St. Michael le Belfrey
Palliser, D.M., Tudor York, 1979
Yates, Nigel, The Religious Life of Local Communities in the Seventeenth Century, 2002
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
