A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cowley family of England.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Gu. three bendlets or”
The Cowley arms were recorded in Stafford, c. 1619.
Staffordshire was mixed country of moorland, farmland and early ironworking. Its landed families were spread widely rather than concentrated, and each holding brought its own claim to 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.
Reigning in England when the Cowley arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Cowley is primarily of English origin and is considered a locational name, meaning it was originally taken from a place where the family lived. The name is derived from the Old English words "cū," meaning cow, and "lēah," which refers to a clearing or a meadow. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to bear the name likely resided near a pasture or a woodland clearing used for grazing cattle. By the early 17th century, the family had established a clear presence in the town of Stafford. Records confirm that members of the Cowley family were living in this area by 1619, where they were integrated into the local community and parish life. Over time, the spelling of the name remained relatively stable, allowing historians to trace the movement of these families as they settled into various trades and roles within the English Midlands.
Old English for a clearing belonging to a person named Cofa.
