A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brearley family of England.
Reg. 9159 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. a cross potent gu. in the dexter point a fleur-de-lis of the second”
Englandc. 1615
Where the Brearley Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Brearley arms are recorded
The Brearley arms were recorded in England, c. 1615.
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 Brearley 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 Brearley Family in England
The surname Brearley is a locational name that originated in the historic county of Yorkshire in northern England. It is derived from the Old English words "brer," meaning briar or bramble, and "leah," which refers to a forest clearing or a meadow. This suggests that the first people to carry the name likely lived near a clearing overgrown with wild thorny bushes. By the year 1615, records confirm that members of the Brearley family were well-established residents of York. During this period, the family was part of the growing urban population in one of England’s most important northern cities. As the name spread from its rural roots into these busy trade centers, it became a permanent identifier for families who were deeply connected to the landscape and history of the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brer-leah
Old English for briar or bramble and a woodland clearing.
This name
BrearleyA person who lived near a clearing overgrown with briars or wild thorny bushes.
also spelled
Brearly
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
Smith, Albert Hugh, The Place-Names of the West Riding of Yorkshire, 1961
West Yorkshire Archive Service, Quarter Sessions Records for the West Riding of Yorkshire, 1615
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
