A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elles family of England.
Reg. 9256 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Gu. a stork sans head ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Elles Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Elles arms are recorded
The Elles 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 Elles 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 Elles Family in England
The surname Elles is a patronymic name, which means it likely originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Ellis or Elias. By the year 1620, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and religious life in Northern England, and families like the Elles were often involved in the local merchant guilds or the skilled trades that kept the city running. Because the name evolved from a common first name, it appeared in various spellings across parish registers and tax documents as the family moved through different regions. Over time, these early ancestors helped shape the local community by participating in the civic and social structures of Yorkshire, leaving behind a legacy that is still tied to the history of the North of England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Elias
The Lord is my God
This name
EllesA patronymic surname derived from the medieval personal name Elias
also spelled
Ellis
Ellys
Elles
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
The Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
