A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dowell family of England.
Reg. 5053 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. a lion ramp. sa. a bordure engr. gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Dowell Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Dowell arms are recorded
The Dowell 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 Dowell 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 Dowell Family in England
The surname Dowell is primarily rooted in the northern regions of England, with a significant presence established in the city of York by the early seventeenth century. The name is considered an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name Ó Dubhghaill, which translates to the descendant of the dark stranger. This term was historically used to describe people of Scandinavian descent who settled in the British Isles during the Viking Age. By the time the family was documented in York in 1620, they had become integrated into the local English population, likely working as tradespeople or merchants within the bustling city walls. As the family grew, they moved through the social and economic structures of northern England, leaving behind records in parish registers and local administrative documents that trace their transition from their ancient roots to their lives in seventeenth-century Yorkshire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dubhgall
Derived from the Gaelic words for dark or black and stranger.
This name
DowellA locational or descriptive surname referring to a person of dark-haired Scandinavian descent.
also spelled
Dowle
Dowl
Related arms
Dowallvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser, The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lionCourage, strength and royalty
