A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Blaney family of England.
Reg. 4975 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
horseReadiness to serve king and country
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Sa. three nags' heads erased ar”
HerefordshireHerefordshire, c. 1620
Where the Blaney Arms Were Recorded
Herefordshire
Map of England showing where the Blaney arms are recorded
The Blaney arms were recorded in Herefordshire, c. 1620.
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 Blaney 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 Herefordshire.
Origin & History of the Blaney Family in England
The family name Blaney is rooted in the ancient Welsh language, likely evolving from the name Bleddyn, which translates to wolf. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the English county of Herefordshire. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the family were settled in this region, where they integrated into the local social and agricultural landscape. During this era, families often moved across the border between Wales and England for trade, marriage, and land ownership. The transition from a traditional Welsh patronymic naming style to the fixed surname Blaney reflects the broader shift in naming customs occurring throughout Britain during the late medieval and early modern periods. This move into Herefordshire suggests that the family was part of a wider movement of people who helped shape the cultural and historical identity of the English borderlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Blaen
A Welsh term referring to the top, head, or source of something.
This name
BlaneyDerived from a topographical location, signifying someone who lived near the head of a valley.
also spelled
Blane
Blayne
Blainey
Related arms
Blanevariant spelling
Blaynevariant spelling
Blayneyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
P.H. Reaney and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
The National Archives, Herefordshire Quarter Sessions Records, Q/SR
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horseReadiness to serve king and country
horseReadiness to serve king and country
