A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Harvill family of England.
Reg. 3345 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. on a chev. gu. five bezants”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Harvill Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Harvill arms are recorded
The Harvill 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 Harvill 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 Harvill Family in England
The Harvill surname likely traces its roots to the northern regions of England, where the name was firmly established in York by the early 17th century. During this period, the city of York served as a vital hub for trade and administration, placing the family within a society transitioning through significant religious and political changes. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older locative or occupational surnames common in Yorkshire, reflecting the way families were identified by their local surroundings or the work they performed. By 1620, individuals bearing the name were already integrated into the local community, participating in the daily life of a city that had long been a center of northern English history. As these early ancestors navigated the challenges of the Stuart era, they helped cement the name as a part of the regional identity of North Yorkshire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hard-ville
A settlement or estate characterized by strength or hardy qualities.
This name
HarvillDerived from a locational surname referring to a person from a hardy or robust village.
also spelled
Harvil
Harvill
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 City Chamberlains' Account Rolls, 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
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
