A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Adney family of England.
Reg. 6195 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Az. a fesse dancettée betw. three cherubs' heads ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Adney Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Adney arms are recorded
The Adney arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Adney 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 England.
Origin & History of the Adney Family in England
The surname Adney is a locative name, which means it likely originated from a specific place or geographical feature associated with an early ancestor. Historical records confirm that members of the Adney family were established in the city of York by the year 1620. During this period, York served as a major northern hub for trade and administration, suggesting that the family may have been involved in the city’s bustling merchant class or local craft guilds. As the name spread outward from these northern roots, it became a distinct identifier for families living in the region. The persistence of the name in parish registers and legal documents from the seventeenth century indicates that the Adney family was well-integrated into the social and economic life of Yorkshire during a time of significant transition in England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Æddan
An Old English diminutive form of the name Ead or Eada.
This name
AdneyRefers to someone living near a noble's island or a river meadow.
also spelled
Adnie
Adny
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
The National Archives, Yorkshire Parish Registers, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
