A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cottle family of England.
Reg. 9876 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
leafHappiness and abundance
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Or, a bend gu. betw. two leaves vert”
SomersetTaunton · Somerset, c. 1620
Where the Cottle Arms Were Recorded
Somerset
Map of England showing where the Cottle arms are recorded
The Cottle arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Cottle 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 Somerset.
Origin & History of the Cottle Family in England
The surname Cottle is deeply rooted in the history of the West Country of England, with a particularly strong presence in the county of Somerset. By the early seventeenth century, families bearing this name were well established in the region, living as farmers and tradespeople within the rural landscape. The name itself is thought to be locative or descriptive in origin, likely evolving from old terms used to identify people who lived near specific landmarks or who worked in particular crafts. Because the Cottle family was documented in Somerset as early as 1620, they were part of the foundational social fabric that helped shape the local economy and community life during the Stuart period. These early ancestors lived through a time of significant social change, and their presence in parish records from that era serves as a testament to their long-standing connection to the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cote
Old English word for a small cottage or shelter.
This name
CottleA dweller in or near a small hut or cottage.
also spelled
Cottell
Cotell
Cottel
Related arms
Cotellvariant spelling
Cottellvariant spelling
Aylewayrecorded with Cottle, same area
Hillrecorded with Cottle, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Dunning, Robert, A History of Somerset, 1983
Somerset Archives, Parish Register Transcripts for the Diocese of Bath and Wells, 1600–1650
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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
leafHappiness and abundance
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
leafHappiness and abundance
