A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Covill family of England.
Reg. 0859 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Or, a fesse gu. in chief three torteaux”
LancasterLancaster, c. 1620
Where the Covill Arms Were Recorded
Lancaster
Map of England showing where the Covill arms are recorded
The Covill arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 Covill 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Covill Family in England
The surname Covill is believed to have originated as a locative name, which means it was used to identify people based on the specific place where they lived. Etymologists often link the name to Old French or Middle English roots that describe a small valley or a hollow in the landscape. By the early seventeenth century, members of the Covill family were well-established in the county of Lancaster in England. Records from 1620 confirm their presence in this region, where they likely worked as farmers or tradespeople within the local community. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of northwestern England, eventually spreading to other parts of the country and across the Atlantic as people sought new opportunities. This history reflects the common experience of many English families who moved from small rural settlements into the broader historical record during the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Colville
Derived from the Old French place name Colleville meaning Cola's settlement.
This name
CovillAn English habitational surname originating from a specific village in Normandy, France.
also spelled
Covell
Covel
Related arms
Covellvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Lancashire Archives, Bishop's Transcripts of Parish Registers for the Diocese of Chester, 1620
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.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
