A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Adie family of England.
Reg. 8617 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. on a bend az. three leopards' faces or”
HertfordHertford, c. 1620
Where the Adie Arms Were Recorded
Hertford
Map of England showing where the Adie arms are recorded
The Adie arms were recorded in Hertford, c. 1620.
Hertfordshire lay just north of London and filled with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate within a day's ride was the usual next step, and an estate 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 Adie 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 Hertford.
Origin & History of the Adie Family in England
The family name Adie is a patronymic surname, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son or descendant of someone named Adam. During the Middle Ages, Adam was a popular name, and the nickname Adie became a common, affectionate way to refer to those who bore it. By the time members of the family were documented in Hertford in 1620, the name had already transitioned from a simple nickname into a stable hereditary surname passed down through generations. Living in a market town like Hertford suggests that these early ancestors were likely involved in the local trade or agricultural life that defined the region during the seventeenth century. As the family grew and moved, the name remained a link to their early roots in the English countryside, reflecting the common naming customs of the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Adam
Hebrew name meaning son of the red earth
This name
AdieA diminutive form of Adam, historically used as a pet name or nickname.
also spelled
Ady
Adie
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
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Hertford St Andrew Parish Registers, 1620
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
