Map of England showing where the Curlin arms are recorded
The Curlin 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 England when the Curlin 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 Curlin Family in England
The surname Curlin is rooted in the historical landscape of Kent, England, where the family was firmly established by the early 17th century. During this period, the region was a bustling hub of agricultural and maritime activity, and families like the Curlins were often integrated into the local parish systems that governed daily life. The name likely evolved from regional dialects or descriptive nicknames common in the southeastern counties of England. As the family grew, they participated in the social and economic shifts of the English countryside, eventually contributing to the migration patterns that carried the name across the Atlantic. By settling in Kent, these early ancestors were part of a long tradition of English families who maintained deep ties to their local communities through land records and church registers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Curlew
A long-billed wading bird known for its distinctive cry.
This name
CurlinA topographic or habitational name for someone who lived near a place frequented by curlew birds.
also spelled
Curlyn
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Everitt, Alan, Continuity and Colonization: The Evolution of Kentish Settlement, 1986
Kent Archives, Archdeaconry of Canterbury Wills and Administrations, 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.
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
