A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dayley family of England.
Reg. 4985 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. three bucks' heads cabossed or”
SuffolkOverbury Hall · Suffolk, c. 1620
Where the Dayley Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Dayley arms are recorded
The Dayley arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Dayley 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Dayley Family in England
The family name Dayley is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, likely originating as a topographic surname for people who lived near a specific meadow or valley. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Suffolk. Records confirm that members of the family were living in this region by 1620, a time when many English families were deeply connected to their local parishes and agricultural communities. As the name evolved over generations, it reflected the linguistic shifts of the English language and the movement of families across the countryside. These early ancestors were part of the fabric of Suffolk life, contributing to the local economy and social structure long before the name spread to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
daeg
Old English word for day or daylight.
This name
DayleyA topographical name for someone who lived in a clearing or a meadow.
also spelled
Dayly
Dayleigh
Related arms
Deyleyvariant spelling
D'Oylyrecorded with Dayley, same area
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
Suffolk Archives, Parish Register Transcripts for Suffolk, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
