Map of Ireland showing where the Bailie arms are recorded
The Bailie arms were recorded in Down, c. 1645.
Down was north-eastern Irish country settled from Scotland in the seventeenth century. The new landowners took grants and had them recorded, which is why so many Down families carry documented shields.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Bailie arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Down.
Origin & History of the Bailie Family in Ireland
The surname Bailie is a variation of the occupational title bailiff, which historically referred to an official who managed land or enforced the law for a noble landowner. By the time the family was firmly established in County Down in 1645, the name had become a common way to identify people who held positions of local responsibility. Many families with this name arrived in Northern Ireland during the seventeenth century as part of the Plantation of Ulster, a period when settlers were encouraged to move from Scotland to Ireland to develop the land. These early settlers in Down often integrated into the local community by taking on roles as farmers, merchants, or estate administrators. Over time, the name evolved through different spellings, but it remained tied to the history of families who played a significant role in the development of the region during a time of great social and political change.
Bailie Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
baillif
Old French term for an official or administrative deputy.
This name
BailieAn occupational surname for a steward or an official who managed an estate.
also spelled
Baily
Baylie
Baylis
Bayly
Related arms
Bailyvariant spelling
Baylievariant spelling
Baylisvariant spelling
Baylyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bell, Robert, The Book of Ulster Surnames, 1988
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Hearth Money Rolls for County Down, 1663
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mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
