Map of England showing where the Mulgrew arms are recorded
The Mulgrew 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 Mulgrew 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 Mulgrew Family in England
The family name Mulgrew is rooted in the Gaelic tradition, originating as the surname Ó Maolchraoibhe. This name translates roughly to a descendant of the devotee of the branch, which likely referred to a religious follower or someone associated with a specific sacred tree or woodland area in Ireland. By the early 17th century, members of the family had migrated across the Irish Sea to settle in the English city of York. Records confirm their presence in this region by 1620, suggesting that the family was part of the broader movement of people between Ireland and Northern England during a time of significant political and social transition. These early settlers in York likely integrated into the local trades and urban life of the city, helping to establish the name within the English historical record while maintaining the linguistic heritage of their Irish ancestors.
Mulgrew Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
O Maolchraoibhe
Descendant of the devotee of the branch or tree.
This name
MulgrewAn Anglicized form of an Irish Gaelic surname denoting a follower or devotee of a sacred branch.
also spelled
Mulgreve
Mulgrev
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 1985
Bardsley, Charles Wareing. A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames. 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. Archbishop of York’s Diocesan Records: Parish Registers of York
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
plant quatrefoilGood fortune and the fourfold gospel
plant quatrefoilGood fortune and the fourfold gospel
