A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Codey family of England.
Reg. 5997 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. three piles engr. sa. on each a cross pattée fitchée or”
EnglandGreat Ellingham, c. 1620
Where the Codey Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Codey arms are recorded
The Codey arms were recorded in Great Ellingham, 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 Codey 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 Codey Family in England
The family name Codey carries a deep connection to the historic city of York, where records confirm members of the family were firmly established by the year 1620. During this period, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration, placing the family at the center of a bustling urban environment. The name likely evolved from regional dialects or occupational descriptions common in Northern England, reflecting the way surnames were often shaped by the local community and daily life. As residents of such a significant city, early members of the Codey family were likely involved in the professional or merchant classes that defined the social structure of seventeenth-century England. Their presence in the city archives suggests that they were settled, contributing members of society who navigated the religious and political shifts of the early Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Coda
An Old Irish term meaning helpful or pillow.
This name
CodeyA surname derived from an Irish personal name signifying a helpful or supportive person.
also spelled
Cody
Codie
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, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 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.
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
cross symbolChristian faith and service
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
cross symbolChristian faith and service
