A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wivell family of England.
Reg. 0584 · English, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. three mullets betw. two bars sa. a border engr. gu”
CornwallWyvellscomb · Cornwall, c. 1620
Where the Wivell Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Wivell arms are recorded
The Wivell arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what 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 Wivell 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 Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Wivell Family in England
The surname Wivell is deeply rooted in the rugged landscape of Cornwall, where the family was firmly established by the early seventeenth century. Historical records confirm that members of the Wivell family were living in the region by 1620, likely working as farmers or tradespeople in the small, isolated coastal communities of the time. The name itself is thought to be locational, possibly derived from an ancient settlement or a specific geographic feature in the West Country. During this period, families in Cornwall often stayed in the same parishes for generations, which allowed the Wivell name to become a permanent part of the local identity. By settling in this distinct part of England, the early Wivells became part of a unique regional culture defined by mining, fishing, and a strong connection to the land.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wifel
An Old English personal name derived from the word for weasel.
This name
WivellA locational surname referring to a dweller at the weasel spring or stream.
also spelled
Wyvill
Wyvile
Wivell
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Vivian, J.L., The Visitations of Cornwall: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1530, 1573, & 1620, 1887
Cornwall Archives, Parish Registers of St. Kew and surrounding districts, 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.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bordureA difference between branches of one family
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
