A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Champley family of England.
Reg. 6300 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Gu. three escallops or”
EnglandScarborough, c. 1620
Where the Champley Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Champley arms are recorded
The Champley arms were recorded in Scarborough, c. 1620.
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 Champley 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 Champley Family in England
The family name Champley is deeply rooted in the historic landscape of Northern England, with clear records placing the family in the city of York by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a topographical surname, which was a common way for people to identify themselves based on the land where they lived or worked. Etymologically, it is thought to derive from a combination of the Old French word champ, meaning a field or open land, and a suffix indicating a specific location or person associated with that area. During the early seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families like the Champleys were often integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes. By establishing themselves in such a prominent city during this era, the early members of the family were part of the vibrant social fabric that defined post-Renaissance England. Over time, the name evolved through various spellings as it was recorded in parish registers and local legal documents, reflecting the way names were written down by clerks based on how they sounded in the local dialect.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Champ
Derived from the Latin campus meaning a field or open plain.
This name
ChampleyA topographical name for someone who lived near a field or an area of open land.
also spelled
Champlay
Champleigh
Related arms
Lumleyrecorded with Champley, same area
Malingrecorded with Champley, same area
O'Reillyrecorded with Champley, same area
Saundersonrecorded with Champley, same area
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
York City Archives, Parish Registers of St. Michael le Belfrey, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
