A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Colley family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2012 · Irish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Or, a lion ramp. gu. gorged with a ducal coronet ppr”
KildareCastle Carbery · Kildare, c. 1537
Where the Colley Arms Were Recorded
Kildare
Map of Ireland showing where the Colley arms are recorded
The Colley arms were recorded in Kildare, c. 1537.
Kildare was flat grazing country close to Dublin, taken early by Norman families. Being near the seat of government meant being near where arms were recorded, which is why so many Kildare names appear.
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 Ireland in this period.
Henry VIII of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry VIII of England
1509–1547
Reigning in Ireland when the Colley arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Kildare.
Origin & History of the Colley Family in Ireland
The history of the Colley family in Ireland began in earnest during the sixteenth century when the family established a significant presence in County Kildare. Historical records confirm that members of the family were settled in the region by 1537, a period marked by the expansion of English administrative influence across the island. The Colleys were closely associated with the strategic town of Carbury, where they held lands and served as key figures in the local government and military defense of the Pale. Over the following generations, the family integrated into the Irish social landscape, transitioning from their initial roles as administrators into prominent landowners. Their early influence in Kildare helped secure their status as a notable family within the region for several centuries.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. a cross wavy sa”
RutlandGlasson · Rutland, c. 1620
Where the Colley Arms Were Recorded
Rutland
Map of England showing where the Colley arms are recorded
The Colley arms were recorded in Rutland, c. 1620.
Rutland is the smallest English county, but its land was good and its manors were held by families of standing. A small county with good land still produces its share of recorded 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 Ireland when the Colley 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 Rutland.
Origin & History of the Colley Family in England
The surname Colley is rooted in the Old English language and likely originated as a descriptive nickname for a person with a dark or swarthy complexion, derived from the word "col," which means coal. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Rutland, which is one of the smallest historic counties in England. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Colley family were living in this region during a time of significant social and agricultural change. During this period, families like the Colleys were often deeply connected to the local land and parish life, serving as farmers or tradespeople who helped shape the rural communities of the English Midlands. As the family grew, they moved across different parts of the country, but their early ties to the landscape of Rutland remain a key part of their historical identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Colla
An ancient Irish personal name derived from the word for wood.
This name
ColleyA descendant of the wood-dweller or a diminutive form of Nicholas.
also spelled
Collay
Colly
Colleyne
Related arms
Collay, or Colleyvariant spelling
Collevariant spelling
Collee, Colley, or Coolingvariant spelling
Collyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Moody, T.W., Martin, F.X., and Byrne, F.J., A New History of Ireland, Volume III: Early Modern Ireland 1534–1691, 1976
FitzGerald, Walter, The Co. Kildare Archaeological Society Journal, 1895
The National Archives of Ireland, Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns
The National Archives of Ireland, Calendar of the State Papers Relating to Ireland
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cross symbolChristian faith and service
