A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Foxwell family of England.
Reg. 1840 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Per chev. vert and erm. in chief two leopards' faces or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Foxwell Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Foxwell arms are recorded
The Foxwell 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 Foxwell 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 Foxwell Family in England
The surname Foxwell is a locational name that likely originated from an Old English description of a specific place. It is composed of the words for a fox and a spring or stream, suggesting that the first people to carry the name lived near a well or water source frequented by foxes. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Foxwell family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religion, and families like the Foxwells were often involved in the local craft guilds or merchant networks that defined the city’s economy. As the family grew, they moved through the northern counties of England, leaving behind traces in parish registers and legal documents that highlight their role in the daily life of seventeenth-century society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fox + Well
A wild canine animal and a water source or spring.
This name
FoxwellRefers to a person who lived near a spring frequented by foxes.
also spelled
Foxwill
Foxwalle
Foxwele
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
York City Archives, York Freemen’s Register, 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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
