A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Abrey family of Wales.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Bendy of six erm. and gu”
The Abrey arms were recorded in Wales, c. 1647.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Denbigh.
Denbighshire was north Welsh country of hills and small estates. Land was held by a great many families rather than a few, and each holding brought its own claim to a coat of 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 Wales in this period.
Reigning in Wales when the Abrey arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Abrey has deep roots in the market town of Denbigh, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1647. During the mid-seventeenth century, Denbigh was a significant administrative and commercial hub in North Wales, shaped by its medieval castle and town walls. Families living in this area at the time were often involved in local trade, agriculture, or the craft guilds that supported the town’s economy. Given the location, the name likely evolved from regional naming customs or local geographic references common to the Welsh borderlands. As the family settled into the community, they became part of the social fabric of Denbigh, living through a period of great political change in Britain. Their presence in the town records from this era suggests they were well-integrated into the local life of the seventeenth century.
Derived from the Germanic elements meaning elf and ruler.
