A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Coulson family of England.
Reg. 1378 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
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. on a bend gu. three fleurs-de-lis of the field”
NorthumberlandJesmond · Northumberland, c. 1620
Where the Coulson Arms Were Recorded
Northumberland
Map of England showing where the Coulson arms are recorded
The Coulson arms were recorded in Northumberland, c. 1620.
Northumberland was border country facing Scotland, raided and fought over for three hundred years. Families held their land in return for defending it, and a defending household carried a shield.
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 Coulson 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 Northumberland.
Origin & History of the Coulson Family in England
The surname Coulson is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Cole. The name Cole itself is a shortened version of the name Nicholas, which was very popular in medieval England. By the year 1620, the Coulson family had established a strong presence in the northern county of Northumberland. This region was a rugged borderland where families often relied on agriculture and local trade to survive. Because the name was tied to a common first name, it appeared independently in different parts of the country, though the Northumberland branch became well-known for its deep roots in the local community. Over many generations, the family members integrated into the social and economic life of Northern England, helping to shape the history of the region through their work and community involvement.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Nicholas
Victory of the people derived from Greek words for victory and people.
This name
CoulsonA patronymic surname meaning son of Nicholas.
also spelled
Coulston
Coulsun
Related arms
Coulstonvariant spelling
Cowlsonvariant spelling
Byronrecorded with Coulson, same area
Stoterecorded with Coulson, same area
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, 1997
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
