A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Devall family of England.
Reg. 1264 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Sa. a bend betw. two cotises dancettée ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Devall Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Devall arms are recorded
The Devall 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 Devall 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 Devall Family in England
The family name Devall has deep roots that trace back to the early seventeenth century in the historic city of York. By 1620, records indicate that members of the family were already established residents within this northern English hub. The name itself is often considered a variation of the French term de val, which translates to of the valley. This suggests that the family’s ancestors likely lived near a prominent valley or low-lying land before migrating across the channel to England. As they settled in York, the family became part of the local social fabric during a time of great change in British history. Over the following decades, the name evolved in spelling as it was recorded by local clerks and church officials, eventually settling into the form recognized today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
de Val
Old French preposition meaning of or from the valley.
This name
DevallA topographic name for someone who lived in or near a valley.
also spelled
Devale
Devell
Related arms
Devellvariant spelling
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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620–1650
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
