A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eel family of England.
Reg. 2584 · 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 naiant sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Eel Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Eel arms are recorded
The Eel 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 Eel 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 Eel Family in England
The surname Eel is a rare English name that likely originated as a descriptive nickname during the Middle Ages. In early naming traditions, people were often identified by their physical traits, occupations, or local wildlife, and the name Eel may have been given to someone who was particularly slippery, quick, or perhaps someone who made their living by fishing in the river systems of Northern England. By 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Eel family were established in the city of York. During this period, York was a major hub for trade and administration, and families living there were often involved in the city’s bustling craft guilds or local mercantile activities. As the family settled into the urban life of the seventeenth century, they became part of the long history of York’s residents who helped shape the city’s social and economic landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Æl
Old English term for an eel or a water-dwelling creature.
This name
EelA topographic or occupational name for someone who caught or sold eels.
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
