Map of England showing where the Dabney arms are recorded
The Dabney 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 Dabney 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 Dabney Family in England
The Dabney family name is believed to have originated from the French surname d’Aubigné, which refers to a person from the town of Aubigné in France. By the early 17th century, members of the family had migrated to England, where they established a presence in the city of York by 1620. These early settlers were part of a period of significant movement across the Atlantic, and they eventually carried the name to the American colonies. As the family integrated into colonial society, the spelling of the name evolved from its French roots into the modern English version used today. This transition reflects the common pattern of immigrant families adapting their heritage to fit the linguistic customs of their new homes while maintaining a connection to their ancestral origins.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
d'Aubigné
Derived from the Gallo-Roman personal name Albinius meaning white or bright.
This name
DabneyA locative surname originating from a place in Normandy, France, associated with the estate of Albinius.
also spelled
Daubney
Dabney
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Crozier, William Armstrong. Virginia County Records: Spotsylvania County, 1721-1800. 1905
Dabney, Charles William. Origin of the Dabney Family of Virginia. 1905
Library of Virginia. Land Office Patents and Grants, 1623-1774
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