A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Exall family of England.
Reg. 6746 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 bend az. three estoiles or”
HuntingdonHuntingdon, c. 1620
Where the Exall Arms Were Recorded
Huntingdon
Map of England showing where the Exall arms are recorded
The Exall arms were recorded in Huntingdon, c. 1620.
Huntingdonshire was small, flat fen-edge country. Drainage made new farmland and new fortunes, and families who gained by it bought manors and took arms to match.
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 Exall 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 Huntingdon.
Origin & History of the Exall Family in England
The surname Exall is a locative name, which means it likely originated from a specific place or geographical feature that early ancestors lived near or owned. While the exact roots of the name remain a subject of study, records confirm that the Exall family was well-established in the town of Huntingdon by the year 1620. During the seventeenth century, Huntingdon was a bustling market town and a significant administrative center in England. Families living there during this period were often involved in local trade, agriculture, or the governance of the county. Because the name appears in parish registers and local legal documents from this era, it suggests that the Exalls were respected members of the community who played a role in the daily life and development of the region. Over time, the family name spread from these early roots in Huntingdon to other parts of the country as individuals moved for work or marriage.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ecgweald
Old English elements meaning edge or sword and power or rule.
This name
ExallA locational or patronymic surname derived from an ancient Anglo-Saxon personal name signifying a powerful warrior.
also spelled
Exhall
Exhale
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Cambridgeshire Archives, Huntingdon St Mary’s Parish Register, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
