A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ady family of England.
Reg. 3253 · 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
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)
“Az. a fesse dauncetté betw. three cherubims' heads or, faces ar”
KentSouthwark · Kent, c. 1615
Where the Ady Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Ady arms are recorded
The Ady arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1615.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Ady 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Ady Family in England
The family name Ady has deep roots in the English county of Kent, where records confirm members of the family were well-established by the early seventeenth century. The name is believed to have originated as a patronymic, which means it was derived from a shortened version of the name Adam. During the medieval period, it was common for people to adopt names based on their father’s given name to help identify themselves within their local communities. By 1615, the Ady family was firmly settled in the Kentish landscape, participating in the social and economic life of the region. Over the following generations, the family name became closely associated with the rural traditions and legal records of the area, reflecting the steady growth and influence of families who lived in the English countryside during the Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Adam
Derived from the Hebrew word for earth or red clay.
This name
AdyA medieval diminutive form of the name Adam, often used as a pet name or nickname.
also spelled
Adie
Addey
Addyes
Adis
Related arms
Addyesvariant spelling
Adeyvariant spelling
Adisvariant spelling
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
Kent Archives, Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury Wills, PRC 17
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
