Map of England showing where the Wetherell arms are recorded
The Wetherell arms were recorded in England, c. 1826.
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.
George IV of the United Kingdom
Sovereign of the period
George IV of the United Kingdom
1820–1830
Reigning in England when the Wetherell 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 Wetherell Family in England
The surname Wetherell is of English origin and is classified as a locative name, meaning it was likely derived from a specific place name. Etymologists believe the name stems from the Old English words for a ram and a corner or nook, suggesting that the earliest ancestors lived near a pasture or a sheltered area where sheep were kept. By the early 19th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1826 confirm that members of the Wetherell family were active participants in the local community during this period of industrial growth. As the family settled into urban life, they contributed to the social and economic fabric of the region, transitioning from their rural roots into the trades and professional life that defined York in the early 1800s.
Wetherell Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Wether-heall
A ram or castrated male sheep and a nook or corner.
This name
WetherellRefers to a dweller at a nook or corner of land where rams were kept.
also spelled
Wetherall
Wetherill
Related arms
Wetherallvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841, HO 107
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
