A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the De Lisle family of England.
Reg. 9499 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th or, on a chief az. three lions ramp. of the field, for LISLE; 2nd, az. a chev. ar. betw. three martlets ppr., for PHILLIPPS; 3rd, quarterly, gu. and az. a cross erm. betw. four lions' heads erased or, for MARCH”
LeicesterGarendon Park · Leicester, c. 1620
Where the De Lisle Arms Were Recorded
Leicester
Map of England showing where the De Lisle arms are recorded
The De Lisle arms were recorded in Leicester, c. 1620.
Leicestershire was grazing country, and wool and cattle made steady money rather than spectacular fortunes. Steady money bought manors, and manors are what brought families into the registers.
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 De Lisle 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 Leicester.
Origin & History of the De Lisle Family in England
The family name De Lisle originates from the Old French phrase meaning of the island. It was likely used as a descriptive title for people who lived on or near an island, or perhaps for those who arrived in England from the Isle of Wight or the Channel Islands. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the county of Leicester. During this period, families in Leicester often played active roles in local agriculture and the growing trade of the English Midlands. As the name moved from its French roots into the English countryside, it became a fixed surname passed down through generations of settlers who helped shape the local community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Insula
Latin word meaning island or land surrounded by water.
This name
De LisleRefers to someone who lived on an island or a piece of land isolated by water.
also spelled
Delile
DeLile
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, 1991
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
