A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Colly family of England.
Reg. 2232 · English, A–C
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”
RutlandGlaston · Rutland, c. 1618
Where the Colly Arms Were Recorded
Rutland
Map of England showing where the Colly arms are recorded
The Colly arms were recorded in Rutland, c. 1618.
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 England when the Colly 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 Colly Family in England
The family name Colly has deep roots in the English county of Rutland, where records confirm members of the family were established as early as 1618. The name is generally considered a variation of the name Nicholas, which was a very popular choice for children during the Middle Ages. Over time, the name was shortened to Col or Coll, and the suffix was added to create the surname as it is recognized today. Families with this name were often part of the local agrarian society, living in small village communities where they worked the land or practiced skilled trades. By the early 17th century, the Colly family had become a settled part of the Rutland landscape, contributing to the local economy and the social fabric of the region during a time of significant change in England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Nicholas
Victory of the people derived from Greek words for victory and people.
This name
CollyA medieval diminutive form of the name Nicholas, often used as a pet name or surname.
also spelled
Colley
Collie
Collis
Related arms
Coleyvariant spelling
Collay, or Colleyvariant spelling
Collee, Colley, or Coolingvariant spelling
Colleyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Record Office, Rutland Quarter Sessions Records, 1618
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
