A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Greenwell family of England.
Reg. 5264 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 bars az. betw. three ducal coronets gu”
DurhamGreenwell Ford · Durham, c. 1620
Where the Greenwell Arms Were Recorded
Durham
Map of England showing where the Greenwell arms are recorded
The Greenwell arms were recorded in Durham, c. 1620.
Durham was governed by its bishop rather than the crown for most of its history, with its own courts and its own landed class. That separate world produced a tight group of families, nearly all of whom held 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 Greenwell 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 Durham.
Origin & History of the Greenwell Family in England
The surname Greenwell is a classic example of a locative name, which means it originated from a specific place rather than a person’s trade or physical traits. The name is derived from the Old English words "grene," meaning green, and "wella," meaning a spring or stream. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to bear the name lived near a lush, grassy watering hole or a verdant valley in Northern England. By the early 17th century, the family had established a strong presence in the County of Durham. Records confirm that members of the Greenwell family were well-settled in this region by 1620, where they often worked as landowners and local officials. Over the generations, the family became deeply rooted in the social and agricultural life of the Durham countryside, helping to shape the history of the area through their long-standing ties to the land.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grene and Wella
Old English words for green and a water spring or stream.
This name
GreenwellRefers to someone who lived near a grassy or verdant water source or spring.
also spelled
Greenwill
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
Surtees, Robert, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham, 1816
Durham County Record Office, Durham Diocesan Records, 1620
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crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
