A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Colby family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0536 · Britain, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au chev. d'or, acc. de trois coquilles du même; à la bord. engr. du sec. C.: un bras, arm. au nat., lisé d'or, la main ganteletée tenant une épée brisée d'arg., garnie d'or, ensanglantée de gu.”
SuffolkSuffolk, c. 1720
Where the Colby Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of Britain showing where the Colby arms are recorded
The Colby arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1720.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat 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 Britain in this period.
George I of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George I of Great Britain
1714–1727
Reigning in Britain when the Colby arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Colby Family in Britain
The surname Colby originates from the Old Norse language, combining the personal name "Koli" with the suffix "by," which refers to a farmstead or village. This naming pattern points to a period of Scandinavian influence in England, particularly in areas where settlers established small rural communities. By the early 18th century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the county of Suffolk. During this era, the Colby family lived as part of the local agrarian society, likely working the land or participating in the regional trade networks that defined East Anglian life. Their presence in Suffolk by 1720 reflects a long history of families who gradually moved from these early northern-influenced settlements into the heart of the English countryside, where they became deeply rooted in the local parish records and community structures of the time.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bordureA difference between branches of one family
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. a chev. betw. three escallops and a border engr. or”
MiddlesexKensington · Middlesex, c. 1620
Where the Colby Arms Were Recorded
Middlesex
Map of England showing where the Colby arms are recorded
The Colby arms were recorded in Middlesex, c. 1620.
Middlesex was the county around London, and City money flowed straight into it. Merchants and officials bought estates within reach of the capital, and a new estate brought a coat of arms with it.
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 Britain when the Colby 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 Middlesex.
Origin & History of the Colby Family in England
The name Colby is rooted in the Old Norse language, originating from the words "koli," a personal name, and "by," which refers to a farm or a settlement. This suggests that the earliest families bearing this name likely established themselves in areas of England influenced by Viking settlers, particularly in the northern and eastern regions. By the early 17th century, the family had moved toward the center of English life, with records confirming their presence in Middlesex by 1620. During this period, Middlesex served as a bustling hub surrounding London, placing the family at the heart of a rapidly changing society. As the family settled in this region, they became part of the local fabric during a time of great exploration and social transition. Their presence in the records of the era reflects a family that was well-integrated into the administrative and social structures of early modern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Koli
Old Norse personal name meaning coal or dark-complexioned.
This name
ColbyDerived from a place name meaning coal farm or settlement belonging to Koli.
also spelled
Colbey
Colbie
Colbeye
Related arms
Colbeyvariant spelling
Colebyvariant spelling
Battrecorded with Colby, same area
Coddrecorded with Colby, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Suffolk Archives, Parish registers for the county of Suffolk, 1720
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
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
bordureA difference between branches of one family
