A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Southwell family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0881 · French, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cinquefoilHope and joy
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à trois quintefeuilles de gu., ch. chacune de six annelets d'or, un annelet au centre et les cinq autres sur les feuilles. C.: un bouc iss. d'arg., accorné, oreillé et cour. de gu., le corps ch. de trois annelets de gu., rangés en pal. S.: à dextre un dragon ailé à deux pattes, de gu., à sen. un singe au nat., ceint d'or et enchainé du même. D.: LE ROY LE VEUT.”
Francec. 1776
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Map of France showing where the Southwell arms are recorded
The Southwell arms were recorded in France, c. 1776.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XVI of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XVI of France
1774–1791
Reigning in France when the Southwell arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Southwell Family in France
The history of the Southwell name in France is deeply tied to the coastal region of Bretagne, where family members were documented as early as 1776. While the name itself has strong roots in England, its presence in France suggests a period of migration often linked to trade, military service, or the movement of families across the English Channel during the eighteenth century. In Bretagne, the family likely integrated into local society by adapting to the regional customs and the French language. Records from this time indicate that they were part of a broader network of families who moved between the two nations, often seeking new opportunities in port cities or rural estates. By settling in this specific part of France, the family became part of the local history of the region, contributing to the cultural and social fabric of the area during a time of significant political change in Europe.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cinquefoilHope and joy
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ar. three cinquefoils gu. each charged with six annulets or”
Englandc. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Southwell arms are recorded
The Southwell 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 France when the Southwell 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 Southwell Family in England
The surname Southwell is a locational name that originated in England, specifically referring to people who hailed from the town of Southwell in Nottinghamshire. The name itself is derived from the Old English words for south and well, likely describing a spring or water source located to the south of a settlement. By the early 17th century, members of the family had established a notable presence in the city of York. During this period, York served as a major center for commerce and administration in Northern England, and families like the Southwells often integrated into the local merchant classes or professional guilds. This migration from their ancestral roots in the Midlands to the northern hub of York reflects the broader patterns of movement and social mobility that defined English family history during the Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Suth-wella
Old English terms for south and a spring or stream.
This name
SouthwellRefers to someone who lived near a spring or stream located to the south.
also spelled
Southwel
Sowthwell
Suthwell
Suthwelle
Related arms
Robinsonrecorded with Southwell, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Série B (Archives civiles)
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E (Familles et notaires)
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Pocquet du Haut-Jussé, Barthélemy, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1937
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cinquefoilHope and joy
cinquefoilHope and joy
