A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Copley family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2810 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la croix ancrée de sa.; à la bord. d'azur, ch. de huit coquilles du champ. C.: un bras, arm. au nat., ch. d'une coquille d'or, le poignet environné d'une couronne de laurier de sin., la main tenant un poignard d'arg., garni d'or, en fasce. S.: deux aigles au nat., le vol levé, ornées d'un collier d'or auquel est suspendu un écusson d'arg. ch. d'une croix ancrée de sa. D.: ULTRA PERGERE.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Copley Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Copley arms are recorded
The Copley arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Copley arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Copley Family in France
The family name Copley traces its roots to a period of significant movement and regional identity within France, specifically finding a documented presence in the province of Bretagne by 1725. During this era, families in the region often identified closely with their local parishes and the specific agricultural or maritime landscapes that defined their daily lives. The name likely evolved as a reflection of the family’s connection to the specific geography of northern France, where linguistic shifts and regional dialects influenced how surnames were recorded in official church registers. As the family established their roots in Bretagne, they became part of a complex social fabric that relied on local trade and community ties. This early history highlights a period of stability for the family, as they integrated into the administrative life of the province during the eighteenth century. By participating in the local records of the time, the family helped preserve a link to their origins in a region known for its strong cultural traditions and historical independence.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. a cross sa. charged with a martlet or”
WorcesterNorton · Worcester, c. 1569
Where the Copley Arms Were Recorded
Worcester
Map of England showing where the Copley arms are recorded
The Copley arms were recorded in Worcester, c. 1569.
Worcestershire was orchard and farming country with a scattering of old manors. Its gentry were middling rather than great, but a manor was a manor, and holding one was what brought 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in France when the Copley 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 Worcester.
Origin & History of the Copley Family in England
The surname Copley originates from the Old English words "copp," meaning a hilltop or peak, and "leah," meaning a clearing or meadow. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to bear the name likely lived near a prominent hill or a cleared woodland area in the northern regions of England. By the mid-16th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Worcester, as evidenced by records from 1569. During this period, families often moved from rural settlements to growing urban centers for trade and economic opportunity. The Copley name reflects a deep connection to the English landscape, marking the transition of a family from their ancestral roots in the countryside to their active participation in the civic and social life of historic English towns.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Coppa
A cup or a bowl-shaped depression in the landscape.
This name
CopleyDerived from a topographical location referring to a meadow or clearing situated near a cup-shaped valley.
also spelled
Copely
Coppley
Kopley
Coply
Coplie
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1998
Le Moyne, Jean, Les noms de famille en Bretagne, 2005
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
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
