A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Merryfield family of England.
Reg. 0989 · English, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. a chev. sa. betw. three (another, five) Cornish choughs ppr”
CornwallCornwall, c. 1620
Where the Merryfield Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Merryfield arms are recorded
The Merryfield arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms with it.
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 Merryfield 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 Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Merryfield Family in England
The surname Merryfield is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place rather than a person’s occupation or physical traits. The name likely refers to a pleasant or "merry" open field, suggesting that the earliest ancestors lived near a notable meadow or a piece of cultivated land. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in Cornwall, a region known for its rugged coastline and distinct cultural history. During this period, families in Cornwall were often deeply connected to the local landscape, and the name served as a way to identify individuals by the land they farmed or inhabited. As the family grew, they moved through the rural parishes of the county, leaving behind traces in local records that document their daily lives and their integration into the tight-knit communities of the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mierigfeld
Old English for a pleasant or agreeable open land.
This name
MerryfieldA topographic name for someone who lived near a pleasant or cheerful meadow or field.
also spelled
Merifield
Merryfield
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, 1958
Tangye, Nigel, Cornwall: A Shell Guide, 1968
The National Archives, Probate records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1620
Cornwall Archives, Parish registers of Cornwall, 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
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
