A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Denby family of England.
Reg. 2187 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Vert a bend betw. three wheels or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Denby Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Denby arms are recorded
The Denby 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 Denby 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 Denby Family in England
The family name Denby is a locational surname, meaning it originated from people who lived in or near a place called Denby. The name itself comes from Old Norse and Old English roots, combining the word for a Dane with the word for a village or farmstead. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name likely lived in settlements established during the period of Viking influence in Northern England. By 1620, records confirm that members of the Denby family were well-established in the city of York. During this era, York was a bustling center of trade and religion, and families like the Denbys were often involved in the local merchant guilds or the skilled trades that supported the city’s economy. These early ancestors were part of a growing urban middle class that helped shape the social and economic life of Yorkshire for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dene and by
Old English for valley and Old Norse for farmstead or village.
This name
DenbyA habitational name referring to a settlement located within a valley.
also spelled
Denbie
Related arms
Denbigh, Earl ofvariant spelling
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
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
York City Archives, York Freemen’s Register, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
