A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Delancey family of England.
Reg. 4655 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cinquefoilHope and joy
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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. two bars ar. in chief three cinquefoils of the last”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Delancey Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Delancey arms are recorded
The Delancey 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 Delancey 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 Delancey Family in England
The surname Delancey traces its roots to the French region of Normandy, where the name originally functioned as a locative descriptor indicating that a person hailed from a place called Lancie. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of York, England, as evidenced by records from 1620. During this period, the family began to transition from their continental origins into the social and economic fabric of Northern England. This migration was part of a larger movement of families seeking new opportunities across the English Channel. As they settled into their new environment, the Delanceys integrated into local trade and civic life, eventually becoming a recognized name within the region before later generations expanded their influence across the Atlantic to the American colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
de l'ancier
Old French phrase meaning from the elder tree or elder bush.
This name
DelanceyA locational surname originally denoting someone who lived near a prominent elder tree.
also spelled
Delancy
Related arms
Clarkesame arms
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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Records: Parish Registers of York, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cinquefoilHope and joy
cinquefoilHope and joy
