A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gravell family of England.
Reg. 9258 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
Colours
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)
“Gu. three buckles or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Gravell Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Gravell arms are recorded
The Gravell 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 Gravell 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 Gravell Family in England
The family name Gravell is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname or a locational identifier in England. During the early seventeenth century, records confirm that members of the Gravell family were established in the city of York by 1620. At this time, York was a bustling center of trade and religious importance, and families living there were often involved in local craft guilds or merchant activities. The name itself likely evolved from Old French or Middle English roots related to gravelly soil, suggesting that early ancestors may have lived near a riverbank or a stony piece of land. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of northern England, contributing to the local community through their work and daily lives in a city defined by its deep medieval history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gravelle
Old French term for gravel or coarse sand.
This name
GravellA topographical name for someone who lived near a gravelly or sandy area.
also spelled
Gravill
Graville
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
