Map of England showing where the Hurrell arms are recorded
The Hurrell 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 Hurrell 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 Hurrell Family in England
The surname Hurrell has deep roots in the English landscape, with historical records placing members of the family in the city of York as early as 1620. The name is generally believed to be a variation of the Old French word hurel, which was used as a nickname to describe someone with shaggy or bristly hair. During the seventeenth century, families with this name were often integrated into the local trades and civic life of northern English cities. As the family established itself in York, they became part of the growing merchant and artisan classes that defined the urban economy of the era. Over time, the spelling evolved from its original continental roots into the modern form used today, reflecting the way names shifted as families moved across different regions of England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hurel
An Old French nickname derived from the word for bristly or shaggy.
This name
HurrellA descriptive surname originally used to identify a person with unkempt or shaggy hair.
also spelled
Hurill
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
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crossbowReadiness for battle and skill at arms
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crossbowReadiness for battle and skill at arms
