Map of England showing where the Stockwell arms are recorded
The Stockwell arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 Stockwell 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Stockwell Family in England
The surname Stockwell is locational in origin, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place name in England. The name is derived from the Old English words "stocc," meaning a tree trunk or a post, and "wella," meaning a spring or a stream. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived near a well or a creek marked by a prominent wooden post or a fallen log. By the year 1620, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the county of Kent. During this period, the family was part of the growing agricultural and merchant classes in southeastern England. As the name spread across the region, it became a permanent identifier for families who maintained a strong connection to the local landscape and the rural communities of the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
stocc and wella
Old English for a tree trunk or post and a spring.
This name
StockwellA habitational name referring to a settlement located near a spring by a tree stump.
also spelled
Stokwell
Stockwill
Related arms
Farringtonrecorded with Stockwell, same area
Marerecorded with Stockwell, same area
Strongi'tharmrecorded with Stockwell, same area
Wilcoxonrecorded with Stockwell, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Kent Archives, Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury Wills, 1620
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
