Map of England showing where the Corley arms are recorded
The Corley arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 Corley 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Corley Family in England
The family name Corley has deep roots in the historical landscape of England, with documented evidence placing members of the family in Lancaster as early as 1620. The name is generally considered to be of topographical origin, which means it likely described a person who lived near a specific geographical feature, such as a hollow or a small valley. In the dialect of the time, the name was often linked to the Old English word for a sheltered place or a clearing. By the seventeenth century, families bearing this name were well-established in the northern regions of England, where they participated in the local agricultural and trade economies that defined life in Lancaster. As these early ancestors moved through the region, they helped shape the local community, leaving behind a legacy that is still reflected in parish registers and regional tax records from that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Corca Laide
An ancient Irish tribe or people of the hollow.
This name
CorleyDerived from an Irish topographical surname meaning descendant of the hollow dweller.
also spelled
Chorlie
Chorly
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Lancashire Archives, Lancaster St Mary Parish Registers, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
