Map of England showing where the Owl arms are recorded
The Owl 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 Owl 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 Owl Family in England
The family name Owl likely originated as a descriptive nickname in medieval England, a time when surnames were often based on a person’s physical traits, personality, or association with local wildlife. Given the nocturnal habits and perceived wisdom of the bird, an ancestor may have been given this name due to their quiet nature or their tendency to stay awake late into the night. By 1620, records confirm that members of the Owl family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families living there were often involved in the city’s thriving craft guilds or local commerce. As the family put down roots in this historic northern city, they became part of the fabric of York’s social and economic development during the early seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ule
Old English term for the nocturnal bird of prey.
This name
OwlA topographic or habitational name for someone who lived near a place frequented by owls.
also spelled
Owll
Oule
Oull
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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owlWisdom and vigilance by night
owlWisdom and vigilance by night
