A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Critchley family of England.
Reg. 1124 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Quarterly, gu. and ar. in the second and third quarter a martlet sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Critchley Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Critchley arms are recorded
The Critchley arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Critchley 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 England.
Origin & History of the Critchley Family in England
The surname Critchley is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the Old English words "cryc," meaning a hill or a ridge, and "leah," which refers to a forest clearing or a meadow. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name likely lived near a prominent hill or a cleared patch of woodland in the English countryside. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Critchley family were active in the region during this period, likely participating in the local trade and social life of the city as it transitioned through the Stuart era. Over the centuries, the name evolved in spelling as it moved through different parishes, but it remains tied to these ancient geographical roots.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crycce-leah
Old English words for a barrow or hill and a clearing.
This name
CritchleyDerived from a topographical location referring to a woodland clearing situated near a hill or barrow.
also spelled
Critchly
Critchleigh
Critchlay
Related arms
Godardsimilar arms
Chritchleyvariant spelling
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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
