A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Sullivant family of England.
Reg. 1379 · English, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
handFaith, sincerity and justice
lionCourage, strength and royalty
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Per fess, the base per pale, in chief or, a dexter hand couped at the wrist, grasping a sword erect, pommel and hilt gu. the blade entwined with a serpent ppr. betw. two lions ramp. respecting each other of the second; the dexter base vert, charged with a buck trippant or, on the sinister base per pale ar. and sa. a boar pass. counterchanged”
SurreyThames Ditton · Surrey, c. 1620
Where the Sullivant Arms Were Recorded
Surrey
Map of England showing where the Sullivant arms are recorded
The Sullivant arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1620.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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 Sullivant 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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Sullivant Family in England
The surname Sullivant is a variant of the more common Sullivan, which originates from the Gaelic name Ó Súilleabháin. While the name is deeply rooted in the history of Ireland, members of the family were established in the English county of Surrey by 1620. During this period, the movement of families between Ireland and England was often driven by political shifts, land ownership changes, and the search for new economic opportunities. Those who settled in Surrey during the early seventeenth century likely integrated into the local agricultural or mercantile communities of the region. Over time, the spelling of the name shifted to Sullivant as it was adapted to the phonetic habits of English speakers. This transition reflects the broader history of how Irish surnames were recorded and modified within the administrative systems of seventeenth-century England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sullevan
Derived from the Old Irish name Suileabhán meaning one-eyed or hawk-eyed.
This name
SullivantAn English variant of the Irish surname meaning one who possesses keen eyesight.
also spelled
Sullivane
Sulliven
Sullivann
O'Sullivan
Sullivant
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 1985
Surrey History Centre. Parish Registers of Surrey. 1620
Woulfe, Patrick. Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall. 1923
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
handFaith, sincerity and justice
lionCourage, strength and royalty
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
handFaith, sincerity and justice
lionCourage, strength and royalty
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
