A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Borley family of England.
Reg. 1185 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Erm. three talbots pass. sa”
EssexEssex, c. 1620
Where the Borley Arms Were Recorded
Essex
Map of England showing where the Borley arms are recorded
The Borley arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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 Borley 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Borley Family in England
The family name Borley is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, specifically taking its name from the village of Borley located in the county of Essex. In Old English, the name likely derived from a combination of words meaning a fortified place or a wood clearing. By the early 17th century, the family was well-established in the region, as evidenced by records confirming their presence in Essex by 1620. During this era, families often took their surnames from the specific parishes or manors where they lived and worked as farmers or tradespeople. Because the village of Borley sits near the border of Suffolk, the family name became a distinct marker of those who held ties to this specific corner of the English countryside. Over generations, the name moved from being a simple description of a place to a permanent family identity that persisted as members settled into local village life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Burh-leah
Old English for a fortified settlement or enclosure and a woodland clearing.
This name
BorleyRefers to a person who lived near a clearing in the woods by a fortified place.
also spelled
Borlie
Borleigh
Related arms
Borlevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., The Place-Names of Essex, 1935
Essex Record Office, Parish Registers of Borley, D/P 162/1/1
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greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
