A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Baye family of England.
Reg. 0527 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Paly of six or and gu. on a chief of the last three escallops of the first”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Baye Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Baye arms are recorded
The Baye 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 Baye 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 Baye Family in England
The surname Baye is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Northern England, with significant records placing the family in the city of York by the year 1620. During the early seventeenth century, York served as a vital hub for trade and administration, providing a stable environment for families to establish their livelihoods. The name itself likely originated as a topographical descriptor, often used to identify individuals who lived near a bay or a specific body of water, or perhaps as a reference to a person’s physical appearance or place of origin. As the family settled into the urban life of York, they became part of the growing merchant and artisan classes that defined the city’s economy during the Stuart period. By maintaining a presence in such a prominent administrative center, the early members of the Baye family were well-positioned to participate in the social and civic developments of the region as England moved through a time of great political and cultural change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
baia
Latin term for a bay or an inlet of the sea.
This name
BayeA topographic name for someone who lived near a bay or coastal inlet.
also spelled
Bayee
Bay
Bays
Related arms
Bayvariant spelling
Baysvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
Collins, Francis, Register of the Freemen of the City of York, 1897
York City Archives, House Books of the City of York
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
