Map of England showing where the Tidwell arms are recorded
The Tidwell arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a coat 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 Tidwell 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Tidwell Family in England
The Tidwell surname is deeply rooted in the English county of Devon, where historical records confirm the presence of the family as early as the seventeenth century. The name is classified as a locative surname, meaning it likely originated from a specific place name rather than a trade or personal trait. Etymologists suggest that the name is derived from the Old English words for a tide or a stream, combined with a term for a spring or a well. This indicates that the earliest members of the family likely lived near a prominent water source or a tidal stream in the Devon countryside. By 1620, families bearing this name were well-established in the region, living as part of the local agrarian society. Over the following decades, these early settlers helped shape the community identity of their parishes through their consistent presence in local land and church records.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Tid-well
Derived from the Old English personal name Tida and the word well.
This name
TidwellRefers to a dweller by a spring or stream belonging to a person named Tida.
also spelled
Tidwill
Tidwall
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, 1991
Gover, J.E.B., Mawer, A., and Stenton, F.M., The Place-Names of Devon, 1931
Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Parish Registers of Devon, 1600–1650
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
bordureA difference between branches of one family
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bordureA difference between branches of one family
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
