A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dales family of England.
Reg. 6188 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. three ducal coronets gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Dales Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Dales arms are recorded
The Dales 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 Dales 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 Dales Family in England
The surname Dales is a topographical name, meaning it was originally used to describe people who lived in or near a valley. In Middle English, the word "dale" referred to a low-lying area between hills, and families often adopted this term to distinguish themselves based on their local geography. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Dales family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families living there were often involved in the city’s influential guilds or local agriculture. Because the name is rooted in the landscape itself, it likely emerged independently in several different regions of Northern England, reflecting the deep connection between early families and the specific terrain they called home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
dael
Old English word for a valley or low-lying area.
This name
DalesA topographic name for someone who lived in or near a valley.
also spelled
Dails
Dayles
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
