A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dee family of England.
Reg. 6618 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Or, a lion ramp. and bordure engr. gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Dee Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Dee arms are recorded
The Dee 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 Dee 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 Dee Family in England
The surname Dee is believed to have roots in the Welsh language, where it is derived from the word "du," meaning black or dark. It was likely used as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor with dark hair or a swarthy complexion before it became a permanent family name. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Dee family were living and working within this northern English hub, which was a center for trade and religious life at the time. Over the following generations, the family integrated into the local community, contributing to the social and economic fabric of the region as the name spread across the British Isles.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Du
A Welsh word meaning black or dark.
This name
DeeAn anglicized form of the Welsh descriptor for someone with a dark complexion.
also spelled
Deye
Dea
Deie
Dey
Related arms
Deavariant spelling
Deyvariant spelling
D'Eyevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lionCourage, strength and royalty
