A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Morrall family of England.
Reg. 3311 · English, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 fesse embattled gu. betw. six Cornish choughs ppr. three palm branches of the first; quartering, for EDWARDES, Gu. a chev. engr. betw. three boars' heads erased ar”
SalopPlas Yolyn · Salop, c. 1669
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of England showing where the Morrall arms are recorded
The Morrall arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1669.
Shropshire lay on the Welsh border, and border country needed men who could fight. Families held their land in return for service, and service in arms is what a coat of arms was originally for.
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.
Charles II of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of England
1660–1685
Reigning in England when the Morrall 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 Salop.
Origin & History of the Morrall Family in England
The surname Morrall has deep roots in the English county of Shropshire, historically known as Salop. By the year 1669, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents in this region. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the older name Morel, which likely originated as a nickname for someone with dark hair or a dark complexion. Over many generations, the spelling shifted to the form we recognize today as families moved through the rural landscapes of the West Midlands. These early ancestors were typically part of the local agrarian society, living and working in the small villages that dotted the Shropshire countryside long before the Industrial Revolution changed the region forever.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Morel
Derived from the Old French word for dark-colored or swarthy.
This name
MorrallA nickname for someone with a dark complexion or dark hair, originating from Anglo-Norman roots.
also spelled
Morrell
Related arms
Morrellvariant spelling
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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
