A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Darnel family of England.
Reg. 0405 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. on a bend betw. two fleurs-de-lis sa. three leopards' heads or”
EnglandLondon, c. 1620
Where the Darnel Arms Were Recorded
London
Map of England showing where the Darnel arms are recorded
The Darnel arms were recorded in London, c. 1620.
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 Darnel 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 Darnel Family in England
The surname Darnel has roots that stretch back into the social fabric of seventeenth-century England. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were already established in London, a city that served as a bustling hub for trade and migration during the early Stuart period. The name itself is thought to be locational or descriptive, likely originating from families who lived near patches of darnel, a type of hardy ryegrass common in the English countryside. As these individuals moved into the urban environment of London, they contributed to the growing merchant and artisan classes that defined the capital. Their presence in the city during this era suggests they were part of the wave of families navigating the rapid economic changes of the time, helping to shape the development of the surname as it moved from rural origins into the historical record of a major world city.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
darnel
A type of rye grass or weed found in grain fields.
This name
DarnelA topographic name for someone who lived near a field of rye grass.
also spelled
Darnall
Dernell
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
The National Archives, Kew, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 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.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
