A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Davey family of England.
Reg. 1327 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Sa. three eagles' heads erased or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Davey Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Davey arms are recorded
The Davey 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 Davey 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 Davey Family in England
The surname Davey originated as a patronymic, meaning it was derived from the given name David, which translates to "beloved." During the Middle Ages, it became common practice for families to adopt the first name of a patriarch as a permanent surname to distinguish their lineage within a community. By the time members of the Davey family were documented in York in 1620, the name had already been established in England for several centuries. These early settlers in York were part of a growing urban population during the seventeenth century, a time when the city served as a vital hub for trade and administration in Northern England. As the family integrated into the local society of York, they contributed to the city's long history of craftsmanship and commerce, helping to preserve the name through generations of record-keeping in parish registers and local legal documents.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
David
Derived from the Hebrew word meaning beloved or friend.
This name
DaveyA patronymic surname meaning son of the beloved one.
also spelled
Davy
Davie
Daivey
Related arms
Davievariant spelling
Davyvariant spelling
Davyevariant spelling
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
York City Archives, York Parish Registers, 1620
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
