A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chicheley family of England.
Reg. 8831 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Or, a chev. betw. three trefoils slipped gu”
CambridgeshireCambridgeshire, c. 1620
Where the Chicheley Arms Were Recorded
Cambridgeshire
Map of England showing where the Chicheley arms are recorded
The Chicheley arms were recorded in Cambridgeshire, 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 Chicheley 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 Cambridgeshire.
Origin & History of the Chicheley Family in England
The surname Chicheley is deeply rooted in the history of East Anglia, particularly within the county of Cambridgeshire. By the early seventeenth century, the family was well-established in this region, appearing in local parish records by 1620. The name itself is thought to be locative, meaning it likely originated from a specific place name, such as a village or a manor, that early ancestors called home. During this era, families often took their surnames from the lands they farmed or the small settlements where they lived. As the family grew in Cambridgeshire, they became part of the local social fabric, participating in the agricultural and community life that defined the English countryside during the reign of King James I. Their presence in these early records provides a clear window into the lives of families who helped shape the rural history of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cicely
Derived from the Roman clan name Caecilius meaning blind or dim-sighted.
This name
ChicheleyA locative surname referring to someone originating from the village of Chicheley in Buckinghamshire.
also spelled
Chichele
Chichley
Chichly
Related arms
Chichele, or Chichleyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Cambridgeshire Archives, Bishop's Transcripts of Parish Registers, 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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
