A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Calley family of England.
Reg. 3043 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Quarterly ar. and sa. on a bend gu. three mullets of the first”
WiltsBurderop · Wilts, c. 1620
Where the Calley Arms Were Recorded
Wilts
Map of England showing where the Calley arms are recorded
The Calley arms were recorded in Wilts, c. 1620.
Wiltshire was sheep country, and wool made money steadily for hundreds of years. Families who made it bought manors on the downs, and holding a manor was the usual reason to take 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 Calley 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 Wilts.
Origin & History of the Calley Family in England
The surname Calley has deep roots in the English county of Wiltshire, where the family established a significant presence by the early seventeenth century. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the family were well-settled in the region, particularly around the area of Burderop Park. The name is generally considered to be a topographical or locational surname, likely derived from early residents who lived near a specific landmark or a small settlement. As the family grew in prominence, they became deeply involved in local governance and land management, which helped solidify their status within the Wiltshire community. By maintaining strong ties to their ancestral lands, the Calley family played a notable role in the social and economic development of the county during the Stuart period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cael
Derived from the Latin word for heaven or sky.
This name
CalleyA locational surname originating from places like Calley in England, often signifying a dweller near a clearing.
also spelled
Calle
Callie
Related arms
Caylesame arms
Clyplesby, or Clypsbysame arms
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
