A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eagles family of England.
Reg. 6745 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Or, a fesse betw. three eagles displ. az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Eagles Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Eagles arms are recorded
The Eagles 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 Eagles 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 Eagles Family in England
The surname Eagles is classified as a patronymic or descriptive name, likely originating from the Middle English word "egle," which refers to the bird of prey. In medieval England, such names were often adopted as nicknames for individuals who displayed traits associated with the bird, such as keen vision, strength, or a noble bearing. By the time the family was established in York in 1620, the name had become a fixed hereditary surname passed down through generations. During the early seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religious activity, and families living there were often involved in the city’s guilds or local commerce. The presence of the Eagles family in this historic city suggests they were part of the growing urban middle class that helped shape the social and economic landscape of Northern England during the Stuart period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aquila
Latin word for the bird of prey known as the eagle.
This name
EaglesA topographic or habitational name for someone who lived at a house marked by an eagle sign.
also spelled
Eagels
Eaglis
Eglis
Related arms
Eglesvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
