A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Seal family of Britain.
Reg. 3350 · Britain, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wolfReward from long service and hard work
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à une couronne murale de gu., entre deux burèles d'azur, accompagnées de trois têtes de loup de sa., 2 en chef et 1 en p. Cq. timbré d'une couronne vallaire d'or. C.: une tête de loup d'arg., coll. d'une couronne de chène de sin.”
DevonshireDevonshire, c. 1838
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Map of Britain showing where the Seal arms are recorded
The Seal arms were recorded in Devonshire, c. 1838.
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.
Victoria
Sovereign of the period
Victoria
1837–1901
Reigning in Britain when the Seal 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 Devonshire.
Origin & History of the Seal Family in Britain
The surname Seal is primarily rooted in the geography of medieval England, originating as a topographic name for people who lived near a forest clearing or a piece of enclosed land. The name is derived from the Old English word "sele," which referred to a hall or a dwelling, or alternatively from the word "sealh," meaning a willow tree. By the time records place the family firmly in the county of Devonshire during the early 19th century, the name had already been established across various parts of the British Isles for several hundred years. Families in Devonshire often worked as skilled laborers or farmers, contributing to the local economy of the region as the Industrial Revolution began to change the landscape of the English countryside. These early ancestors were part of a long tradition of rural life, and their presence in 1838 reflects the deep-seated ties that many families held to specific English counties over many generations.
Seal Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Siele
Old English term referring to a dwelling or a small settlement.
This name
SealA topographic name for someone who lived near a hall or a small village.
also spelled
Seall
Seal
Seel
Seele
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
The National Archives, General Register Office: 1841 Census Returns, HO 107
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
wolfReward from long service and hard work
wolfReward from long service and hard work
