Map of France showing where the Crispell arms are recorded
The Crispell arms were recorded in Middlesex, c. 1665.
Middlesex was the county around London, and City money flowed straight into it. Merchants and officials bought estates within reach of the capital, and a new estate brought a coat of 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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Crispell arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Middlesex.
Origin & History of the Crispell Family in France
The Crispell family name traces its roots to the northern regions of France, where the name likely emerged as a descriptive term for individuals living in specific rural landscapes. Before members of the family arrived in the American colonies, they were part of the Huguenot movement, a group of French Protestants who faced significant religious persecution during the seventeenth century. Many families with this surname lived in areas where they were forced to flee their homes to escape political and religious pressure. By the time Antoine Crispell appeared in the records of Hurley and Kingston in the New York colony during the 1660s, he had already traveled from his ancestral homeland to the Palatinate region of Germany. This migration pattern was common for French families seeking safety before they eventually crossed the Atlantic Ocean to settle in the New World. The family name serves as a historical marker of this difficult journey and the resilience of those who sought a new beginning in the English-controlled territories of North America.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Erm. a fesse chequy ar. and sa. quartering or, on a chev. sa. five horseshoes gold, another coat of CRISPE”
KentQueeks · Kent, c. 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of England showing where the Crispell arms are recorded
The Crispell 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 France when the Crispell 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 Crispell Family in England
The family name Crispell likely traces its roots to the southeastern region of England, particularly within the county of Kent. By the early 17th century, the name was firmly established in this area, as evidenced by records from 1620. During this period, Kent served as a bustling hub of agricultural and maritime activity, placing the family at the heart of a region undergoing significant social and economic shifts. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older occupational or descriptive surnames common in medieval England, reflecting the way families were identified by their neighbors in small village communities. As the family lived in Kent, they were part of a landscape defined by trade, religious change, and the growing influence of the nearby port cities. This early presence in Kent suggests that the Crispell family was deeply integrated into the local English society long before many members began to look toward the Atlantic and the possibilities of the New World.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crispus
Latin term meaning curly-haired or having curled locks.
This name
CrispellA locative or descriptive surname referring to a person with curly or frizzy hair.
also spelled
Krispe
Krisp
Crisp
Cryspe
Crysp
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Anjou, Gustave, Ulster County, N.Y. Probate Records in the Office of the Surrogate, and in the County Clerk's Office at Kingston, N.Y., 1906
Hasbrouck, Kenneth E., The Crispell Family in America, 1965
New York State Archives, Colonial Council Minutes, 1668–1783
Ulster County Clerk’s Office, Records of the Town of Hurley, 1662–1700
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
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
