A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Clegg family of England.
Reg. 8097 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Sa. on a fesse betw. two lions pass. counterpass. ar. a mullet of the first pierced of the second”
LancasterAllerton · Lancaster, c. 1620
Where the Clegg Arms Were Recorded
Lancaster
Map of England showing where the Clegg arms are recorded
The Clegg arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 Clegg 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Clegg Family in England
The surname Clegg is a locational name that originated in the historic county of Lancashire in North West England. It is derived from the Old Norse word kleggi, which refers to a compact mass or a clayey piece of land. Families bearing this name likely took it from a specific place or farmstead where they lived during the medieval period. By the early seventeenth century, the family was well-established in the region, as evidenced by records of Clegg individuals living in Lancaster around 1620. During this era, the family was part of the local social fabric, often working as yeomen or tradespeople who contributed to the growth of the town. The name remains deeply connected to the geography of Lancashire, reflecting a long history of settlement in the rolling hills and river valleys of the English northwest.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
clæg
Old English term referring to sticky earth or clay soil.
This name
CleggA topographic name for someone who lived near a patch of clay or heavy soil.
also spelled
Clege
Related arms
Malivorerrecorded with Clegg, 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
Ekwall, Eilert, The Place-Names of Lancashire, 1922
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
