A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cundall family of England.
Reg. 5158 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 cross gu. surmounted by a bend az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Cundall Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Cundall arms are recorded
The Cundall 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 Cundall 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 Cundall Family in England
The family name Cundall is a locational surname, which means it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the village of Cundall in North Yorkshire, located near the River Swale. In Old English, the name likely combines the word for a valley with a personal name or a descriptive term for the landscape. By the early 17th century, members of the family had established a presence in the city of York, as evidenced by records from 1620. During this period, the family was likely involved in the local trade and civic life of the city, which was a major hub for northern England. As people moved from rural villages into growing urban centers, they often kept their place of origin as a way to identify their lineage and roots.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cunda
Old English personal name meaning unknown or possibly related to valley
This name
CundallDerived from a location in North Yorkshire, referring to a valley or hollow belonging to Cunda.
also spelled
Cundell
Cundale
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. Archbishop of York Diocesan Records
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
