A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eccles family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3938 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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. on a saltire gu. two crozier staves saltireways or, surmounted with a lion's head of the first”
SuffolkSuffolk, c. 1620
Where the Eccles Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Eccles arms are recorded
The Eccles arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Eccles 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Eccles Family in England
The surname Eccles is a locational name that originated from places in England where early settlers lived near a church. The word itself comes from the Latin term *ecclesia*, which refers to a place of worship or a gathering of people. By the time the family was firmly established in Suffolk in 1620, the name had already been in use for several centuries across various English counties. Families often adopted these names to identify themselves by the specific village or parish where they held land or worked. In the seventeenth century, the Eccles family in Suffolk lived during a time of significant social change and migration. They were part of a growing class of English families who were settling into local communities and establishing roots that would last for generations. Their presence in the historical record of that era reflects the broader movement of people who were defining their identities through their local geography and their connection to the land.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
axeThe execution of military duty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. two halberts saltireways az”
AyrKildonan · Ayr, c. 1748
Where the Eccles Arms Were Recorded
Ayr
Map of Scotland showing where the Eccles arms are recorded
The Eccles arms were recorded in Ayr, c. 1748.
Ayrshire was farming country along Scotland's south-west coast, held in a great many small estates. Its lairds were numerous rather than rich, and each holding brought its own claim to 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 Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in England when the Eccles arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ayr.
Origin & History of the Eccles Family in Scotland
The surname Eccles is a locational name that traces its roots to ancient settlements in Scotland. The name is derived from the Old Welsh word eglwys, which means a church, suggesting that the earliest families lived near a prominent religious site. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the town of Ayr. Records from 1748 confirm that members of the Eccles family were active participants in the local community of this coastal burgh. During this period, Ayr served as a vital center for trade and regional administration, allowing families like the Eccles to integrate into the professional and social life of the Scottish Lowlands. Over time, the family name became firmly associated with the history of Ayrshire, reflecting the broader patterns of migration and settlement that defined the region during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
eclesia
Latin term for a gathering or assembly of people.
This name
EcclesDerived from a place name referring to a settlement near a church.
also spelled
Ecclesse
Related arms
Eklesvariant spelling
Eklysvariant 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, 1958
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I, 1620
Suffolk Archives, Ipswich Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
lionCourage, strength and royalty
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
lionCourage, strength and royalty
axeThe execution of military duty
