A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Coveney family of England.
Reg. 9293 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Erm. on a bend . . three trefoils slipped”
KentHinxhill · Kent, c. 1620
Where the Coveney Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Coveney arms are recorded
The Coveney 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 Coveney 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 Coveney Family in England
The Coveney family name is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Kent, England, where records confirm their presence as early as the year 1620. The name is believed to be locational in origin, likely derived from a specific place or small settlement in the region that no longer exists or has had its name altered over the centuries. During the seventeenth century, families in Kent were often tied to the land through agriculture and local trade, and the Coveney name appears in parish registers and legal documents from this period. These early ancestors were part of a stable rural society that relied on community ties and local governance. As the family grew, they became integrated into the social fabric of the English countryside, leaving behind a trail of records that document their daily lives, marriages, and contributions to their local parishes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cofn
Old English term for a cave or a hollow place.
This name
CoveneyDerived from a topographic location referring to someone living near a cave or hollow.
also spelled
Covenay
Covenie
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Everitt, Alan, The Community of Kent and the Great Rebellion, 1966
Kent Archives, Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury Wills, PRC 17
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
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
