Map of England showing where the Decelles arms are recorded
The Decelles 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 Decelles 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 Decelles Family in England
The family name Decelles traces its roots to French origins, where it functioned as a topographic surname describing someone who lived near a cellar or a storage vault. By the year 1620, records indicate that members of the family were already established in York, which suggests that the family had moved across borders during a period of significant social and economic migration. These early ancestors were likely part of the growing merchant or artisan classes who moved between France and England to pursue new trade opportunities. As they settled into their new environment, the family name evolved to reflect their French heritage while they integrated into the local community. This early presence in York highlights the family's long history of mobility and their ability to adapt to new cultural landscapes centuries ago.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
de cella
Latin phrase meaning from the cell or small room.
This name
DecellesA locational surname referring to someone who lived near a monastic cell or storehouse.
also spelled
Deckels
Decklis
Decklesse
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Library and Archives Canada, Recensement de la Nouvelle-France, 1666
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
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