Map of England showing where the Mackrell arms are recorded
The Mackrell arms were recorded in Norfolk, c. 1718.
Norfolk grew rich on wool and grain, and its wealth was spread among many middling families rather than a few great ones. Households of that kind bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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.
George I of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George I of Great Britain
1714–1727
Reigning in England when the Mackrell 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 Norfolk.
Origin & History of the Mackrell Family in England
The surname Mackrell is rooted in the linguistic traditions of medieval England, likely originating as a descriptive nickname. Etymologists often link the name to the Middle English word for the mackerel fish, suggesting that an early ancestor may have been a fishmonger or a person known for their quick movements. By the early eighteenth century, the family had established a clear presence in the county of Norfolk. Records from 1718 confirm that members of the Mackrell family were living and working within this region, contributing to the local agricultural and social fabric of East Anglia. During this period, families in Norfolk were often deeply connected to the land and the thriving wool trade, which provided the economic stability necessary for families to remain in one area for generations. This long-standing connection to Norfolk suggests that the Mackrells were well-integrated into the rural communities of the time, living through the significant social changes that defined the early modern era in England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Macra
A Latin term meaning spotted or marked.
This name
MackrellA nickname for a person with a spotted complexion or a mackerel-like appearance.
also spelled
Mackeril
Mackrell
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1995
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
Norfolk Record Office, Parish Registers for the Diocese of Norwich, 1718
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
