Map of England showing where the Therrell arms are recorded
The Therrell arms were recorded in Hertford, c. 1620.
Hertfordshire lay just north of London and filled with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate within a day's ride was the usual next step, and an estate brought arms with it.
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 Therrell 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 Hertford.
Origin & History of the Therrell Family in England
The family name Therrell traces its roots back to early seventeenth-century England, with documented evidence placing family members in the region of Hertford by 1620. During this period, the name likely emerged as a variation of regional surnames tied to local geography or occupational descriptions common in the English countryside. Families living in Hertford at this time were often involved in the agricultural and merchant trades that defined the local economy near London. As the seventeenth century progressed, members of the family were part of the broader movement of English settlers who sought new opportunities across the Atlantic. By establishing themselves in the American colonies, the early Therrells helped transition the name from its English origins into a distinct lineage that would eventually spread throughout the southern United States.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Thorel
Derived from the Old Norse name Thor, meaning the god of thunder.
This name
TherrellA locational or patronymic surname originating from the Old Norse name Thor, signifying a descendant of Thor.
also spelled
Tyrrell
Tyrell
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Hertford St Andrew Parish Registers, 1620
Coldham, Peter Wilson, The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1607–1660, 1987
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
