A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Curwen family of England.
Reg. 0084 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Ar. fretty gu. a chief az”
CumberlandWorkington · Cumberland, c. 1664
Where the Curwen Arms Were Recorded
Cumberland
Map of England showing where the Curwen arms are recorded
The Curwen arms were recorded in Cumberland, c. 1664.
Cumberland was rough border country in the north-west, facing Scotland across a disputed line. Its families held land in return for keeping it defended, and men who fought carried shields of their own.
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.
Charles II of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of England
1660–1685
Reigning in England when the Curwen 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 Cumberland.
Origin & History of the Curwen Family in England
The Curwen family name has deep roots in the rugged landscape of Cumberland, where the family established a significant presence by the mid-seventeenth century. The name itself is thought to be a locative surname, likely derived from the ancient parish of Culwen in Galloway, Scotland. Over several generations, the family migrated south across the border into the northern English county of Cumberland. By 1664, they were well-integrated into the local community, often associated with the management of land and the development of regional estates. Their history is closely tied to the social and economic shifts of the English borderlands, reflecting a transition from northern Scottish origins to becoming a prominent fixture in the administrative and agricultural life of Cumberland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Culwen
A place name derived from the River Culwen in Galloway.
This name
CurwenRefers to a person who originated from the lands near the River Culwen.
also spelled
Curwin
Curwyn
Curwynn
Related arms
Russellrecorded with Curwen, same area
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
Nicolson, Joseph and Burn, Richard, The History and Antiquities of the Counties of Westmorland and Cumberland, 1777
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
