Map of England showing where the Adderley arms are recorded
The Adderley arms were recorded in Stafford, c. 1583.
Staffordshire was mixed country of moorland, farmland and early ironworking. Its landed families were spread widely rather than concentrated, and each holding brought its own claim to 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Adderley 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 Stafford.
Origin & History of the Adderley Family in England
The Adderley family name is a locative surname, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or personal characteristic. The name is derived from the Old English words "ædre," meaning a stream or watercourse, and "leah," which refers to a clearing or meadow. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a prominent stream in a wooded area. By 1583, the family was firmly established in the county of Stafford, where they became notable landowners and members of the local gentry. During this period, the family played an active role in the social and political life of the region, gradually expanding their influence through marriage and local administration. Their presence in Staffordshire during the late sixteenth century marks the beginning of a long history of the family name in English records.
Adderley Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Aethelred
Old English elements meaning noble and counsel.
This name
AdderleyDerived from a place name meaning a clearing in the woods belonging to Aethelred.
also spelled
Adderly
Adderlie
Adderli
Adderleigh
Related arms
Arderleysimilar arms
Atherleysimilar arms
Rigeley, or Ridleysimilar arms
Dixwellrecorded with Adderley, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Staffordshire Record Office, Quarter Sessions Rolls, 1583
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
