A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Contry family of England.
Reg. 0560 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
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 pile surmounted of a fesse betw. four fleurs-de-lis or”
KentBrook · Kent, c. 1620
Where the Contry Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Contry arms are recorded
The Contry arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Contry 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Contry Family in England
The family name Contry has deep roots in the English county of Kent, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1620. During the early seventeenth century, Kent was a bustling region known for its agricultural wealth and its strategic position near the coast. Families living in this area often worked as tenant farmers or skilled tradespeople, contributing to the local economy of small parishes. The name itself likely evolved from older linguistic patterns found in southern England, reflecting how people were identified by their specific location or their occupation within a village. As the family grew, they became part of the fabric of Kentish life, living through a period of significant social and political change in England. By settling in this region, the early Contry family helped shape the local community and established a presence that would persist for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
contra
Latin preposition meaning against or opposite
This name
ContryA topographic name for someone who lived on the opposite side of a settlement or boundary.
also spelled
Contrey
Contrie
Contray
Related arms
Oxendenrecorded with Contry, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Everitt, Alan, The Community of Kent and the Great Rebellion 1640-1660, 1966
Kent Archives, Quarter Sessions Records, Q/S/1620
Wallenberg, J.K., The Place-Names of Kent, 1934
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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
