A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Audley family of England.
Reg. 4847 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Quarterly, per pale indented or and az. on a bend of the second betw. two eagles displ. gold a fret betw. two martlets of the last”
EssexWalden · Essex, c. 1538
Where the Audley Arms Were Recorded
Essex
Map of England showing where the Audley arms are recorded
The Audley arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1538.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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.
Henry VIII of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry VIII of England
1509–1547
Reigning in England when the Audley 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Audley Family in England
The surname Audley originates from the Old English words for old and clearing, suggesting that the earliest ancestors lived near a familiar woodland opening. By the time the family appears in the official records of Essex in 1538, they were already well-established members of the local community. During the sixteenth century, families like the Audleys often gained prominence through land ownership and service to the crown as the English social structure began to shift. The name itself reflects a deep connection to the landscape, as many early English surnames were chosen based on the specific geography of a person’s home. As the family grew in Essex, they became part of the broader history of the region, contributing to the agricultural and social life of the English countryside during the Tudor period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aldgyth
Old English elements meaning old and battle or war.
This name
AudleyDerived from a place name meaning Ealdgyth's clearing or meadow.
also spelled
Audly
Odlee
Audeley
Audely
Related arms
Audeleyvariant spelling
Adamrecorded with Audley, same area
Boytonrecorded with Audley, same area
Holgaterecorded with Audley, same area
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
Essex Record Office, Parish Registers of Essex, D/P series
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
