A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bulkley family of England.
Reg. 7502 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
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 chevronels ar. betw. as many goats' heads erased of the last”
StaffordshireStaffordshire, c. 1620
Where the Bulkley Arms Were Recorded
Staffordshire
Map of England showing where the Bulkley arms are recorded
The Bulkley arms were recorded in Staffordshire, 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 Bulkley 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 Staffordshire.
Origin & History of the Bulkley Family in England
The Bulkley family name originates from the county of Cheshire in England, where it was derived from the Old English words for a bull and a clearing. By the early seventeenth century, members of this family had established a significant presence in the neighboring county of Staffordshire. Historical records from 1620 confirm that the family was well-integrated into the local society of this region during a time of great social change. The name itself reflects a deep connection to the English landscape, as many surnames from this period were chosen to describe the specific location or land where a family lived. Over several generations, the Bulkleys transitioned from local landowners to figures involved in the broader administrative and religious life of the area. This movement helped the family maintain its status and influence as they navigated the complex political environment of early modern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bulkeley
Derived from the Old English words for bull and clearing or meadow.
This name
BulkleyRefers to a bull's meadow or a clearing where bulls were kept.
also spelled
Bulkeley
Bulkly
Related arms
Bulkeleyvariant spelling
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
Staffordshire Record Office, Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Visitations, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
