A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elwill family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9927 · French, 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
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à la fasce d'azur; à la bande de gu., br. sur le tout (ou, la fasce br. sur la bande). C.: un faisceau de cinq flèches d'or, les pointes en bas, lié d'un serpent au nat.”
FranceExeter, c. 1725
Where the Elwill Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Elwill arms are recorded
The Elwill arms were recorded in Exeter, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Elwill arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Elwill Family in France
The family name Elwill traces its roots to the coastal region of Bretagne in northwestern France, where records confirm the presence of family members by the year 1725. During this period, the name was likely shaped by the unique linguistic environment of the region, which blended traditional French with the local Breton language. Families in this area often lived in small, tight-knit maritime communities that relied on fishing and trade for their survival. As the eighteenth century progressed, the Elwill family became part of the social fabric of rural Bretagne, navigating the complex agricultural and economic shifts that defined the era. While the name remains rare, its survival in the regional archives provides a clear link to the hardworking people who lived along the rugged Atlantic coastline during the final decades of the French monarchy.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Erm. on a chev. engr. betw. three eagles displ. with two heads gu. each gorged with a ducal coronet or, as many annulets of the last”
EnglandExeter, c. 1701
Where the Elwill Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Elwill arms are recorded
The Elwill arms were recorded in Exeter, c. 1701.
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.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in France when the Elwill 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 Elwill Family in England
The family name Elwill is deeply rooted in the history of Northern England, with confirmed records placing the family in the city of York by the year 1701. During this period, York served as a vital hub for trade and administration, suggesting that early members of the family were likely involved in the bustling urban economy of the time. The name itself is believed to be of locative or topographical origin, which was a common way for families to identify themselves based on the specific landscape or settlement where they resided. As the family established their presence in York, they became part of the local social fabric during a time of significant transition in English society. By integrating into the community, the early Elwills contributed to the long-standing heritage of the region, leaving behind a legacy that is tied to the development of Northern English towns and their evolving records.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Albo-wulf
Derived from Germanic elements meaning white or bright and wolf.
This name
ElwillA surname of Germanic origin signifying a bright or noble wolf.
also spelled
Elwyl
Elwylle
Related arms
Elwes de Stokesame arms
Ellwellvariant spelling
Lawdayrecorded with Elwill, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
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
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
