A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Coverdale family of England.
Reg. 4208 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Per chev. nebulée gu. and ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Coverdale Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Coverdale arms are recorded
The Coverdale 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 Coverdale 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 Coverdale Family in England
The surname Coverdale is a locational name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the valley of the River Cover in North Yorkshire, England. People living in or near this valley during the Middle Ages began to use the name to identify themselves to others. By the time members of the family were recorded in York in 1620, the name had already been established in the region for several centuries. These early families were likely part of the growing merchant or craft classes that defined city life in northern England during the seventeenth century. Because the name is tied to the geography of the Yorkshire Dales, it reflects the deep connection between rural northern landscapes and the development of English family identities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cofre-dael
Old English for a hollow or valley belonging to a cove.
This name
CoverdaleA topographic name for someone who lived in a valley associated with a cove or sheltered bay.
also spelled
Coverdall
Coverdaile
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
North Yorkshire County Record Office, Quarter Sessions Records, 1600–1650
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
