A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bickley family of England.
Reg. 3689 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Or, a chev. crenellée betw. three griffins' heads erased sa”
SussexChidham · Sussex, c. 1620
Where the Bickley Arms Were Recorded
Sussex
Map of England showing where the Bickley arms are recorded
The Bickley 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 Bickley 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 Bickley Family in England
The surname Bickley is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. Etymologists believe the name derives from Old English words meaning a clearing near a stream or a valley where bees were kept. 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 Bickley family were living in this region, likely working as landowners or farmers who were deeply integrated into the local parish life of the era. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of southern England, contributing to the agricultural and community development of the Sussex countryside during the Stuart period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bica and leah
A personal name meaning bee and an Old English word for clearing.
This name
BickleyA clearing in the woods associated with a person named Bica.
also spelled
Byckley
Bickly
Related arms
Ellmersimilar arms
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Mills, Anthony David, A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1991
West Sussex Record Office, Parish Registers of Sussex, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
