A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chidley family of England.
Reg. 2581 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Erm. three lions ramp. gu”
DevonshireDevonshire, c. 1620
Where the Chidley Arms Were Recorded
Devonshire
Map of England showing where the Chidley arms are recorded
The Chidley arms were recorded in Devonshire, 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 Chidley 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 Devonshire.
Origin & History of the Chidley Family in England
The surname Chidley is a locational name that originated in the southwestern region of England. It is derived from the Old English words "cide," meaning a sprout or young shoot, and "leah," which refers to a clearing or a meadow. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived near a specific woodland clearing or a grassy area that was known for its new growth. By the early 17th century, the family had established a strong presence in the county of Devonshire. Records from 1620 confirm that the Chidley name was well-rooted in this rural landscape, where families often took their surnames from the specific parcels of land they farmed or inhabited. Over time, as family members moved to different towns and villages, the name became a permanent marker of their ancestral ties to the Devonshire countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cidda-leah
Old English for a clearing belonging to a person named Cidda.
This name
ChidleyDerived from a locational surname referring to a woodland clearing or meadow.
also spelled
Chidleigh
Chidly
Chidlie
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
The National Archives, Kew. Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, PROB 11
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
