Map of England showing where the Woodell arms are recorded
The Woodell arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Woodell 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 Woodell Family in England
The surname Woodell is rooted in the landscape of Northern England, specifically within the historic county of Yorkshire. The name is topographical in origin, likely describing ancestors who lived near a wooded hill or a small forest clearing. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Woodell family were well-established residents of York. During this era, York was a bustling center of trade and religious importance, and families living there were often involved in the skilled crafts or merchant guilds that defined the city’s economy. As the family grew, their presence in the region became a testament to the stability of local communities in the early seventeenth century. These early Woodells likely navigated the social and economic shifts of the Stuart period while maintaining their ties to the northern English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wudu
Old English term for wood, forest, or timber.
This name
WoodellA topographical name for someone who lived near a small forest or wooded hill.
also spelled
Wodall
Wodill
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 Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
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crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
