Map of England showing where the Sherrell arms are recorded
The Sherrell 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 Sherrell 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 Sherrell Family in England
The Sherrell family name is rooted in the historic landscape of Northern England, with documented evidence placing early members in the city of York by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a locational surname, which was a common practice in medieval England where individuals were identified by the specific village or geographic feature near their home. In the case of the Sherrells, the name may have evolved from an Old English term describing a bright or clear stream, suggesting that the family’s earliest ancestors lived near a prominent waterway. During the early 17th century, York served as a vital center for trade and religious life, and families living there were often involved in the city’s bustling mercantile or craft guilds. As the family grew, members eventually moved beyond the city walls, carrying their name into other parts of the British Isles and eventually across the Atlantic to the American colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Scir-hyll
Old English words for bright or clear and a hill.
This name
SherrellDerived from a topographic location referring to someone who lived near a bright or clear hill.
also spelled
Serrellis
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
helmetWisdom and security in defence
feathersWilling obedience and serenity
helmetWisdom and security in defence
feathersWilling obedience and serenity
