A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Atlee family of England.
Reg. 0507 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
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 lion ramp. ar. (sometimes tail forked)”
SussexSussex, c. 1620
Where the Atlee Arms Were Recorded
Sussex
Map of England showing where the Atlee arms are recorded
The Atlee arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1620.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic records.
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 Atlee 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 Sussex.
Origin & History of the Atlee Family in England
The surname Atlee is a topographical name that originated in England, specifically describing someone who lived near a meadow or a clearing in a forest. The name is derived from the Old English words "at" and "lea," which together translate to "at the meadow." By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Sussex. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Atlee family were settled in this region, likely working as farmers or landowners who were deeply connected to the local landscape. Over time, the spelling evolved from variations like Atlea or Atley into the modern form we recognize today. This transition reflects the common way English surnames became standardized as families moved and interacted within their communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Atte Lea
Middle English phrase meaning at the meadow or clearing.
This name
AtleeA topographic name for someone who lived near a meadow or woodland clearing.
also spelled
Atley
Atlea
Atleese
Related arms
Atleyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
The National Archives, Probate Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1620
West Sussex Record Office, Parish Registers of Sussex, 1620
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
