A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eales family of England.
Reg. 5707 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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. three eels embowed in pale sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Eales Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Eales arms are recorded
The Eales 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 Eales 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 Eales Family in England
The surname Eales is rooted in the ancient naming traditions of England, where it likely originated as a variation of the name Elias or Eales. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Eales family were living and working within this northern hub during a period of significant social change. As residents of a major trade center, these early ancestors were likely involved in the local merchant guilds or the skilled crafts that defined York’s economy at the time. Over the following generations, the name spread from these urban roots into the surrounding countryside, gradually becoming a distinct part of the regional identity in Northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aegel
Old English element meaning awe or terror.
This name
EalesA patronymic surname derived from the Old English personal name Aethel, meaning noble.
also spelled
Ealis
Eeles
Eelis
Related arms
Eelesvariant 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
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serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
