A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ellwood family of England.
Reg. 8100 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Az. a chev. ar. in chief two mullets or, in base a buck's head cabossed of the second, attired of the third”
YorkYork, c. 1620
Where the Ellwood Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Ellwood arms are recorded
The Ellwood arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Ellwood 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 York.
Origin & History of the Ellwood Family in England
The surname Ellwood is rooted in the landscape of Northern England, specifically within the historic county of Yorkshire. The name is locative in origin, meaning it likely began as a way to identify people who lived near a specific grove or wooded area, as the Old English elements suggest a connection to an elder tree wood. By the year 1620, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the city of York. During this period, the city served as a major hub for trade and administration in the north, and families like the Ellwoods were often integrated into the local merchant or craft guilds that defined urban life. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, contributing to the local community through their work and their presence in parish registers that tracked the births, marriages, and deaths of York residents.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Old English 'el' and 'wudu'
Derived from the words for foreign or elder tree and wood.
This name
EllwoodRefers to someone who lived near a forest of elder trees or a foreign wood.
also spelled
Ellwode
Elwode
Related arms
Elwoodsame arms
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
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
