Map of England showing where the Colleary arms are recorded
The Colleary arms were recorded in Gloucestershire, 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 Colleary 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 Gloucestershire.
Origin & History of the Colleary Family in England
The family name Colleary is rooted in a history of migration and regional settlement within England. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were established in the county of Gloucestershire. During this period, families often moved to follow agricultural work or emerging trade opportunities in the growing market towns of the West Country. The name likely evolved as a descriptive term or a locational identifier, reflecting the way local communities identified individuals based on their occupation or their place of origin. As the family settled into the social fabric of Gloucestershire, they became part of the local parish systems that documented births, marriages, and deaths. This early presence suggests that the Colleary family was integrated into the rural economy of the seventeenth century, living through a time of significant social and political change in England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ó Collaigh
Descendant of the follower or devotee of a saint.
This name
CollearyAn anglicized Irish surname derived from a Gaelic personal name meaning devoted or loyal.
also spelled
Collar
Collyer
Collerre
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Gloucestershire Archives, Diocese of Gloucester: Records of the Bishop's Consistory Court, 1620
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic: James I, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
cross symbolChristian faith and service
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
