A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Davys family of England.
Reg. 6587 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cinquefoilHope and joy
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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. a fesse betw. three cinquefoils erm”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Davys Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Davys arms are recorded
The Davys 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 Davys 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 Davys Family in England
The name Davys is a patronymic surname, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of David. The name David itself comes from Hebrew roots meaning beloved, and it became widely popular across Britain following the influence of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales. By the early 17th century, families bearing the name Davys had established a presence in the historic city of York. During this period, York was a major center for commerce and administration in Northern England. Members of the Davys family living there in 1620 were likely part of the growing merchant or artisan classes who helped define the city's social character during the transition into the Stuart era. Because surnames were still becoming standardized at this time, the spelling of the name often shifted between Davys, Davis, and Davies depending on the literacy of the local record keepers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
David
Derived from the Hebrew word meaning beloved or friend.
This name
DavysA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named David.
also spelled
Davis
Davies
Daviss
Davie
Davye
Related arms
Daveysvariant spelling
Davievariant spelling
Daviesvariant spelling
Davisvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Cottle, Basil. The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. 1967
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. Archbishop of York Diocesan Records
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cinquefoilHope and joy
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cinquefoilHope and joy
