Map of England showing where the Kercheval arms are recorded
The Kercheval arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Kercheval 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 York.
Origin & History of the Kercheval Family in England
The family name Kercheval is believed to have roots in the northern regions of France, likely originating from the name Carchereville. By the early seventeenth century, members of the family had migrated across the English Channel to settle in the city of York. Records confirm their presence in this historic English town by 1620, where they lived as part of the local community during a period of significant social change. Over the following decades, the family name underwent subtle spelling variations as it became established in the English language. These early ancestors eventually transitioned from their life in York to participate in the broader movement of families seeking new opportunities across the Atlantic. Their journey from the continent to England and eventually to the American colonies reflects the migratory patterns common among families of that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Querqueville
A place name derived from the Latin quercus meaning oak tree.
This name
KerchevalAn English habitational surname originating from a village in Normandy, France, associated with oak forests.
also spelled
Kercheval
Kerchevall
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. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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horseReadiness to serve king and country
horseReadiness to serve king and country
