Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Sa. a chev. erm. betw. three leopards' heads or”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Blakeney family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Sa. a chev. erm. betw. three leopards' heads or”
The Blakeney arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 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.
The Blakeney family name traces its roots in Ireland back to the mid-seventeenth century, with documented evidence placing family members in Dublin by 1645. While the name originated in England, those who settled in Ireland during this period became deeply integrated into the social and political fabric of the country. Many members of the family rose to prominence through service in the military and the administration of land, particularly in the western province of Connacht. Over the following generations, the Blakeneys established themselves as significant landowners, most notably in County Galway at Castle Blakeney. Their history reflects the broader patterns of migration and settlement that defined the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Ireland, as families moved across the Irish Sea to build new lives and estates.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. a chev. gu. betw. three leopards' heads sa”
The Blakeney 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.
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.
The Blakeney family name originates from a locational source, likely derived from the village of Blakeney in Norfolk or similar settlements in Gloucestershire. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of York, where records confirm their residence by 1620. During this era, families often moved toward major urban centers like York to participate in the growing trade and administrative networks of northern England. As the family settled into these city environments, they became part of the local social fabric, often engaging in the commerce and civic life that defined the period. This migration pattern reflects the broader movement of English families during the Stuart era, as individuals sought new opportunities in established regional hubs.
Old English term meaning dark or black in color.

