A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Nicholls family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9782 · Britain, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D’or au chev. de gu., ch. sur la cime d’une colombe et sur les branches de deux phéons d’arg. les pointes en bas. C.: un écureuil assis, soutenu d’une tronc d’arbre, en pal, poussant une branche à dextre et à sen. D.: Y VALUE THE KERNEL.”
BritainHoll, c. 1700
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Map of Britain showing where the Nicholls arms are recorded
The Nicholls arms were recorded in Holl, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Nicholls arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Nicholls Family in Britain
The surname Nicholls is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Nicholas. This given name became popular across Britain following the Norman Conquest, as it was associated with Saint Nicholas, a figure celebrated for his kindness and generosity. By the time the name became established in Kent during the early 1700s, families bearing this title were often deeply integrated into the local agricultural or trade communities. In rural areas like Kent, these families frequently worked as tenant farmers or skilled craftsmen, contributing to the local economy while passing the name down through generations. Because surnames were not strictly regulated in early modern Britain, the spelling often shifted between variations like Nichols, Nicholls, or Nickolls depending on how a local clerk recorded the name in parish registers. These records serve as the primary evidence of the family’s presence, showing how they lived, worked, and grew within the social fabric of the English countryside.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Sa. three pheons ar. a canton of the last”
StaffordWhitgreave · Stafford, c. 1620
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 Nicholls arms are recorded
The Nicholls arms were recorded in Stafford, c. 1620.
Staffordshire was mixed country of moorland, farmland and early ironworking. Its landed families were spread widely rather than concentrated, and each holding brought its own claim to 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 Britain when the Nicholls 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 Stafford.
Origin & History of the Nicholls Family in England
The surname Nicholls is a patronymic name, meaning it originated as a way to identify someone as the son of a man named Nicholas. This name became popular in England following the Norman Conquest, as it honored Saint Nicholas of Myra. By the time the family was firmly established in Stafford in 1620, the name had evolved from its early medieval roots into a stable hereditary surname. During this era, families in the West Midlands often lived in close-knit communities where their trade or local standing defined their daily lives. Records from the early seventeenth century show that the Nicholls family was part of a growing class of English citizens who were increasingly documented in parish registers and local legal papers. This period was a time of significant social change, and the presence of the family in Stafford suggests they were well-integrated into the local economy and religious life of the town.
Nicholls Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Nikolaos
Derived from Greek words for victory and people.
This name
NichollsA patronymic surname meaning son of Nicholas, signifying victory of the people.
also spelled
Nichols
Nickolls
Nikols
Nicolls
Related arms
Nichellsvariant spelling
Nicollsvariant spelling
Balneavisrecorded with Nicholls, same area
Couttsrecorded with Nicholls, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Kent History and Library Centre, Parish Registers of Kent, 1700–1750
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
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
