A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gradwell family of Ireland.
Reg. 7063 · Irish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
foxWit and wisdom in defence
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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, two foxes courant in pale ppr. in the centre chief point a rose gu”
MeathDowth Hall · Meath, c. 1645
Where the Gradwell Arms Were Recorded
Meath
Map of Ireland showing where the Gradwell arms are recorded
The Gradwell arms were recorded in Meath, c. 1645.
Meath was the best farmland in Ireland and the old seat of its high kings. Norman families took it early and held it, and land of that quality kept the same families on it for centuries.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Gradwell arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Meath.
Origin & History of the Gradwell Family in Ireland
The Gradwell family name is rooted in the history of North West England, specifically within the county of Lancashire. The name is topographical in origin, likely derived from a place known as Gradwell or Gradwell Fold, which describes a valley or a stream. By the mid-seventeenth century, members of the family had established a significant presence in County Meath, Ireland. This migration was part of a broader movement of English families settling in Ireland during a time of intense political and social upheaval. Records from 1645 confirm that the family had integrated into the local community in Meath, where they became notable landowners and participants in the regional economy. Over the following generations, the family maintained these Irish connections while preserving their ancestral links to their English origins.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Graed-wielle
Old English for gray or gravelly stream or spring.
This name
GradwellDerived from a topographic location referring to a settlement near a gray-colored stream or gravelly spring.
also spelled
Gradwill
Gradwalle
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
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of County Meath, 1654–1656
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.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
foxWit and wisdom in defence
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
foxWit and wisdom in defence
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
