A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Churley family of England.
Reg. 0592 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Paly of six or and az. a canton erm”
KentKent, c. 1620
Where the Churley Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Churley arms are recorded
The Churley arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Churley 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Churley Family in England
The surname Churley is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Kent, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1620. The name is generally considered a locational or topographical surname, likely derived from Old English terms describing a person who lived near a specific clearing or a small settlement. In the early seventeenth century, Kent was a bustling region defined by its agricultural output and proximity to the trade routes of the English Channel. Families like the Churleys were often part of the yeoman class, which consisted of independent farmers who owned their own land and held a respected position in local society. By settling in this region, the early members of the family became part of the long tradition of Kentish rural life, contributing to the local economy and the development of the parish communities that defined the area during the Stuart period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ceorl-leah
A clearing or meadow belonging to a free peasant or freeman.
This name
ChurleyDerived from an Old English habitational name referring to a meadow owned by a commoner.
also spelled
Churly
Churleigh
Churlye
Churleygh
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Everitt, Alan, The Community of Kent and the Great Rebellion, 1640-1660, 1966
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
