Map of England showing where the Atchley arms are recorded
The Atchley 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 Atchley 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 Atchley Family in England
The surname Atchley is a locative name, which means it likely originated from a specific place or settlement in England. The name is composed of two Old English elements. The first part is derived from the word for an oak tree, and the second part refers to a meadow or a clearing in the woods. This suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing this name lived near a prominent oak-filled field. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Atchley family were established in the historic city of York. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families living there were often involved in local commerce or skilled craftsmanship. As the family grew, they moved through different parts of the region, carrying the name forward as a link to their ancestral roots in the English landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aecce-leah
Old English for oak tree and a woodland clearing.
This name
AtchleyDerived from a locational surname referring to someone living near an oak clearing.
also spelled
Atcheley
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
