A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Aspley family of England.
Reg. 3139 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Vaire ar. and sa. three bars gu. a canton erm”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Aspley Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Aspley arms are recorded
The Aspley 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 Aspley 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 Aspley Family in England
The surname Aspley is a locative name, meaning it originally identified individuals by the place where they lived. It is derived from Old English roots, combining the word for an aspen tree with the word for a clearing or meadow. By the early seventeenth century, members of the Aspley family were well-established in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 show that these early family members were active participants in the urban life of the region during a time of significant social and economic change in Northern England. As residents of a major trade hub, the family likely engaged in the local commerce and civic duties that defined life in York during the Stuart period. Over time, the name remained tied to these northern roots as the family continued to grow and settle across the surrounding counties.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
æspe leah
Old English for aspen tree and a woodland clearing or meadow.
This name
AspleyA habitational name referring to a clearing where aspen trees grow.
also spelled
Asplie
Asply
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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
