A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elwes family of England.
Reg. 5322 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Or, a fess az. and a bend gu”
EnglandHabelsthorpe, c. 1620
Where the Elwes Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Elwes arms are recorded
The Elwes arms were recorded in Habelsthorpe, 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 Elwes 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 Elwes Family in England
The family name Elwes is rooted in the ancient naming traditions of Northern England, where it likely evolved as a patronymic derived from the personal name Helwise. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of York, a major center for trade and administration at the time. Records from 1620 confirm their integration into the local community, where members of the family were active in civic and professional life. Over the following generations, the family expanded their influence through strategic marriages and land ownership, eventually spreading from their Yorkshire origins into other parts of England. This transition from regional merchants and landowners to a wider national presence reflects the typical path of many established families during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heloise
Derived from the Germanic name Helewidis meaning healthy or wide wood.
This name
ElwesA patronymic surname originating from the medieval given name Helwis or Elois.
also spelled
Elways
Elwiss
Elwys
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
Foster, Joseph, Pedigrees of the County Families of Yorkshire, 1874
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
