A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Harewell family of England.
Reg. 0361 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
rabbitOne who lives peaceably and well
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. on a fesse nebulée sa. three hares' heads couped or (another, the heads erased ar.)”
SuffolkBlakenham · Suffolk, c. 1620
Where the Harewell Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Harewell arms are recorded
The Harewell arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Harewell 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Harewell Family in England
The surname Harewell is a locative name, which means it likely originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name is composed of two Old English elements. The first part, hare, often referred to the animal, while the second part, well, typically described a spring or a stream. Families bearing this name were well-established in the county of Suffolk by the early seventeenth century. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Harewell family were active participants in the local community during this period of English history. As people moved across the landscape for work or marriage, they carried the name with them, helping to anchor the family identity within the rural parishes of East Anglia. These early ancestors were likely farmers or tradespeople who contributed to the local economy and social structure of their Suffolk villages long before the family name spread to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hara and wella
Old English for a grey-colored animal and a water spring.
This name
HarewellA topographical name for someone who lived near a spring frequented by hares.
also spelled
Harwell
Harewill
Harwill
Related arms
Harwellvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Suffolk Archives, Parish registers for the county of Suffolk, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
rabbitOne who lives peaceably and well
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
rabbitOne who lives peaceably and well
