Coats of Arms

There are a few different Coats of Arms registered for the Blackwell Family. Heraldic Rules dictate that only first sons of first sons of the Coat of Arms Recipient are allowed to bear the arms of their ancestors. Younger sons are permitted a version of their father's arms, but they must be modified to some degree. This first one is the coat of arms that my grandfather believed to be ours. I am still researching this one. The best I have been able to find is that the third one which traces back to Bushey in Hertfordshire or Derbyshire, (depending on who you talk to), is probably the right one. Read more about the Blackwell of Bushey and Watford in Hertfordshire by clicking HERE. I like the lion much better than the swan visually though. However, Debretts says there is no connection to the Bushey family for my line. Number 4 is the oldest known arms associated with Blackwell according to the Hall of Names International.
Eventually I hope to have a visual copy of each version of the Blackwell Arms that I can post here. In the mean time you can click on any of the images to enlarge for a better view.

1. 2. 3. 4.

My own personal arms and bookplate. I will eventually be able to apply for a grant for this. I can prove English decent, but not necessarily a line to an original arms bearer. Therefore I am eligible to request my own grant. In the mean time, in America I am able to legally assume my own arms as are all of you. Here is my enitre bookplate which I have designed myself and assumed. I do have a copyright for this.

The most commonly noted Blackwell Coat of Arms is documented in Rietstap's Armorial General. The original description of the shield is: "PALE D'ARG. ET D'AZUR; AU CHEF DEGU., CH. D'UN LEOPARD D'OR, L'ECU BORDE D'HERM." Number Three is an artist depiction of this one. My only problem with this is that looking at a Heraldic Dictionary and going over the terms, the number one arms is not like the number three because it says Pale d'arg ...but doesn't say Pale of SIX d'arg.... The actual definition of Pale says an Ordinary consisting of a broad vertical band in the center of the shield, normally 1/3 of the width. Therefore it would not have 6 vertical stripes and may be an earlier version before it became 6.

These are the listings I have found thus far:
Burkes Armorial:

Blackwell (Ampney Park, co. Gloucester). Ar. a greyhound courant sa. on a chief dancettee of the last, three bezants. Crest--Two arms embowed, in scale armour hands ppr. holding up a greyhound's head couped at the neck gu. collared sa. (This sounds like number 4 above to me).

Blackwell (Sprouston Hall, co. Norfolk). Paly of six ar. and az. on a chief gu. a lion pass. guard. or, all within a bordure erm. Crest--A swan's head and neck erased ar. ducally gorged or.

Blackwell. Paly of six ar. and az. on a chief gu. a lion pass. guard. or.

Blackwell. Ar. a greyhound in full course sa. on a chief of the second three bezants.

Also closely related Blackwill and Blackwall entries:

Blackwall (London). Ar. a greyhound courant sa. on a chief indented of the second, three bezants. Crest--A dexter hand gauntleted, holding a pheon all ppr.

Blackwall (Blackwall, in the Peak, co. Derby, there seated in the time of Henry III.). Ar. a greyhound in full course sa. collared chequy or and gu., on a chief dancettee of the second three bezants. Crest--Two arms embowed, habited in mail ppr. hands ar. holding betw. them by the nose and ear a greyhound's head couped sa. collared chequy or and gu. Another Crest--A griffin's head erased sa. beaked and eared or, charged on the neck with a bar gemelle ar. and a trefoil slipped erm.

Blackwall-Evans (Idridgehay, co. Derby). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, ar. a chev. betw. three boars' heads couped sa., for EVANS; 2nd and 3rd, ar. a greyhound courant sa. collared chequy or and gu. on a chief indented of the second three bezants, for BLACKWALL. Crest--1st: On a ducal coronet or, a boar's head erased fessways gu, EVANS; 2nd: Two arms embowed habited in mail ppr. holding a greyhound's head couped at the neck sa. collared chequy or and gu., BLACKWALL.

Blackwall (confirmed to JOHN BLACKWELL, Esq., in the year 1764). Ar. a greyhound courant sa. collared chequy or and gu. on a chief indented of the second three bezants. Crest--A greyhound's head couped sa. collared chequy or and gu. betw. two arms embowed, havited in mail ppr.

Blackwill. Ar three trefoils slipped sa. on a chief of the last a lion ramp. of the first. Crest--a demi lion holding in the paws an anchor ppr.

Rietstap's Armorial General vol. I A-K:

Blackwell de Sprowston - Hertfordshire (Baronet; 16 juillet 1718. M. et. le 9 mai 1801.) Pale d arg et d'azur; au chef de gu., ch. d'un leopard do'or. L'ecu borde d'herm. Crest--un col de cygne d'arg., coll d'une couronne d'or.

Fairbairn's Crests of the Families of Great Britain & Ireland:
The following is only the Crest or the portion above the shield of the Arms:

Blackwall, Lond., in dexter hand, gauntleted, a pheon, all ppr. crest 1

Blackwell, Ampney Park, Gloue., two arms, (in scale armour,) embowed, between hands, ppr., a greyhound's head, couped at neck, gu., collared, sa. crest 2, (head, crest3)

Blackwell, a martlet. crest 4

Blackwell, Sprouston-Hall, Norf., a swan's head and neck, (erased,) ar., ducally gorged, crest 5

Blackwell, a dove, (issuing.) crest 6

Blackwell, or Blackwall, two arms, in mail, embowed, ppr., between hands, ar., a greyhound's head, couped, sa., collared, checky, or and gu. crest 2 ( head crest 7)

Blackwell of Blackwell, Derbs., a griffin's head, erased, sa., beaked, or, charged on neck with a bar gemelle, ar., and a trefoil, slipped, erm. crest 8

Blackwill, a demi-lion, between paws an anchor, ppr. crest 9

IF YOU HAVE A COPY OF ANY BLACKWELL ARMS OR KNOW THE DESCRIPTION OF ANOTHER ONE, PLEASE SEND IT TO ME SO I CAN POST THE INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE FOR ALL TO RESEARCH.

SHYTNIK@ADELPHIA.NET