Map of England showing where the Spell arms are recorded
The Spell 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 Spell 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 Spell Family in England
The surname Spell is an ancient English name that likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a topographical identifier. In Old English, the word "spell" meant a story, a message, or a spoken tale, suggesting that early ancestors may have been known as storytellers or messengers within their local communities. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Spell 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 often played active roles in the city's guilds and civic organizations. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Northern England, contributing to the local economy and the developing culture of the region throughout the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
spel
Old English word meaning a story, tale, or message.
This name
SpellAn occupational name for a messenger, town crier, or a storyteller.
also spelled
Sapill
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
York City Archives, Freemen of the City of York Registers
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
