A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Adley family of England.
Reg. 2695 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Gu. on a chev. or, three crosses crosslet sa”
SomersetshireSomersetshire, c. 1620
Where the Adley Arms Were Recorded
Somersetshire
Map of England showing where the Adley arms are recorded
The Adley arms were recorded in Somersetshire, c. 1620.
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 Adley 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 Somersetshire.
Origin & History of the Adley Family in England
The surname Adley is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, originating as a locational name derived from Old English terms for a clearing or a meadow. By the early seventeenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the county of Somersetshire. During this period, the region was a center for agriculture and the growing wool trade, which likely provided the economic foundation for families living in the area. The name evolved through various spellings in parish registers as local scribes recorded births, marriages, and deaths based on the phonetic sounds of the time. These early Adley families were part of the rural gentry and yeoman classes who maintained deep ties to the land and their local communities in the West Country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Æthel-leah
Noble wood or clearing
This name
AdleyDerived from an Old English place name meaning a clearing belonging to a noble person.
also spelled
Adleigh
Adlie
Adly
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Somerset Archives, Parish Registers of Somerset, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
