A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arey family of England.
Reg. 4167 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. three birds or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Arey Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Arey arms are recorded
The Arey 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 Arey 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 Arey Family in England
The family name Arey has roots that trace back to the early seventeenth century in the historic city of York, England. Records confirm that members of the family were established in this region by 1620, a time when the city served as a vital hub for trade and administration in the north. The name likely evolved from regional dialects or occupational descriptions common to the area during the late medieval and early modern periods. As families in York were often deeply integrated into the local merchant guilds and parish life, the early Arey ancestors were part of a society transitioning through significant religious and political shifts. By settling in such a prominent urban center, these early family members were well-positioned to participate in the growth of English colonial expansion and the eventual migration of families to the American colonies later in the century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hari
A Germanic personal name meaning army or warrior.
This name
AreyDerived from a locative name for someone living near a clearing or an army encampment.
also spelled
Ary
Arie
Arry
Aray
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Baines, Edward. History, Directory and Gazetteer of the County of York. 1822
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains’ Accounts, 1610–1630
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martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
