A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cuyler family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8295 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti-enclavé de gu. et d'azur; à une flèche d'or, arm. et empennée d'arg., en bande, br. sur le parti. Cq. timbré d'une couronne murale d'or. C.: deux flèches d'or, arm. et empennées d'arg., passées en saut., les pointes en bas, br. sur une hache d'armes d'arg. en pal. D.: DEO NON SAGITTIS FIDO.”
HertfordshireHertfordshire, c. 1814
Where the Cuyler Arms Were Recorded
Map of France showing where the Cuyler arms are recorded
The Cuyler arms were recorded in Hertfordshire, c. 1814.
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.
Napoleon
Sovereign of the period
Napoleon
1804–1814
Reigning in France when the Cuyler 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 Hertfordshire.
Origin & History of the Cuyler Family in France
The name Cuyler is widely believed to have originated in the Netherlands, but its early history is deeply connected to the movement of families across Northern Europe and into France. Before the family established a notable presence in Hertfordshire, England, by the early 19th century, ancestors likely migrated through various regions of the continent as part of the shifting populations of the Low Countries and neighboring French territories. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Dutch word for a maker of arrows, which suggests that early members of the family were skilled tradespeople who provided essential tools for defense and hunting. As these families moved into France and eventually across the channel to Britain, they carried their trade name with them, adapting it to fit the local languages of their new homes. By the time the family appeared in English records in 1814, they had transitioned from their artisan roots into a family that was well-integrated into the social and professional structures of their community.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Per pale embattled gu. and az. an arrow in bend or, barbed and flighted ar. point upwards”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Cuyler Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Cuyler arms are recorded
The Cuyler 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 France when the Cuyler 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 Cuyler Family in England
The history of the Cuyler family in England is rooted in the northern city of York, where records confirm their presence by the early seventeenth century. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious activity, and families like the Cuylers often occupied roles within the local merchant class or the skilled trades. The name itself is thought to be an occupational or locational surname, potentially linked to the historical movement of people across the North Sea from the Low Countries to the eastern ports of England. As the family established their roots in York around 1620, they became part of a society transitioning through significant political and social changes. Their early life in the city likely revolved around the parish system, which served as the primary way for families to record births, marriages, and deaths during the reign of King James I. By settling in such a prominent regional hub, the early Cuylers integrated into the fabric of English life long before many of their descendants eventually migrated to the American colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cullier
Derived from the Old French word for a spoon or ladle maker.
This name
CuylerAn occupational surname historically identifying a maker or seller of spoons or ladles.
also spelled
Kuyler
Cuylor
Cuylar
Cuiler
Related arms
Cuilervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives (UK), Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions Records, 1814
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
