Map of England showing where the Yale arms are recorded
The Yale 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 Yale 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 Yale Family in England
The surname Yale originates from the Welsh language, derived from the word "iâl," which refers to a fertile or open stretch of land. Historically, the family was deeply rooted in the region of Denbighshire in North Wales, where they held significant social standing and land. By the year 1620, members of the family had established a presence in Cornwall, reflecting the broader movement of Welsh families into other parts of Britain during the seventeenth century. This migration often occurred as younger sons sought new opportunities in trade, law, or administration outside of their ancestral home. The family name eventually gained international recognition through the establishment of educational institutions in the American colonies, but its true beginnings remain tied to the rugged landscape and linguistic traditions of the Welsh borderlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gell
A Welsh personal name derived from the word for fertile or fruitful.
This name
YaleA topographical name for someone who lived near a fertile slope or clearing.
also spelled
Yall
Yail
Yaile
Yallie
Related arms
Lloydrecorded with Yale, same area
Meredithrecorded with Yale, same area
Williamsrecorded with Yale, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
P.H. Reaney and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
The National Archives, Kew, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, PROB 11
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
