A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cowling family of England.
Reg. 3633 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. a chev. sa. betw. three Cornish choughs ppr”
CornwallKerthen · Cornwall, c. 1620
Where the Cowling Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Cowling arms are recorded
The Cowling arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms with it.
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 Cowling 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 Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Cowling Family in England
The surname Cowling is primarily rooted in the rugged landscape of Cornwall, where it has been established for centuries. The name is generally considered a locative surname, meaning it likely originated from a specific place name or a geographical feature that early ancestors lived near or owned. In the Cornish language, the prefix "col" often refers to a hill or a narrow pass, suggesting that the first people to carry this name may have been residents of a high-altitude settlement or a valley entrance. By the year 1620, records confirm that the family was well-integrated into the local community, participating in the agricultural and maritime life that defined the region. As the family grew, they spread across the Cornish peninsula, often appearing in parish registers as farmers, miners, and tradespeople who helped shape the identity of their local villages.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Col
A diminutive form of the Old English personal name Nicholas.
This name
CowlingDerived from the son of Col, referring to a dweller near a hill or ridge.
also spelled
Cowlin
Cowlyn
Related arms
Cowlinvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Padel, O.J., A Popular Dictionary of Cornish Place-Names, 1988
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Cornwall Archives, Parish Registers of Cornwall, 1620
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
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
