Map of England showing where the Shotwell arms are recorded
The Shotwell arms were recorded in Berks, c. 1620.
Berkshire sat on the road west from London with the royal castle at Windsor in the middle of it. Court families bought estates within reach, and an estate near the court almost always came with a coat 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Shotwell 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 Berks.
Origin & History of the Shotwell Family in England
The Shotwell family name originates from England, where its roots are deeply tied to the landscape and local geography. The name is locational, likely derived from a specific place or settlement known as "Shotwell," which describes a small stream or spring used for shooting or flowing water. By 1620, records confirm that members of the family were established in the county of Berkshire. During this period, the family lived as part of the rural English gentry and yeomanry, working the land and participating in the local community life of the region. As the seventeenth century progressed, some members of the family eventually sought new opportunities across the Atlantic, carrying their name and heritage into the early American colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
sceot-wielle
Old English for a shooting or rushing spring or stream.
This name
ShotwellRefers to a person who lived near a rapidly flowing spring or water source.
also spelled
Sotwill
Sotwall
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. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
The National Archives (UK), Probate Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1620
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
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
