A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Derby family of England.
Reg. 3178 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. a fess betw. three sinister wings sa”
LeicesterWalton · Leicester, c. 1619
Where the Derby Arms Were Recorded
Leicester
Map of England showing where the Derby arms are recorded
The Derby arms were recorded in Leicester, c. 1619.
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 Derby 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 Derby Family in England
The family name Derby is a locative surname, meaning it originally identified people based on the town or region where they lived. It is derived from the city of Derby in the East Midlands of England, which served as a central hub for trade and administration during the Middle Ages. By the early seventeenth century, members of the family had established a notable presence in the nearby county of Leicester. Records from 1619 confirm that the family was well-integrated into the local community there, likely participating in the agricultural and mercantile activities that defined the region at the time. Because surnames were often adopted by individuals as they moved away from their place of origin to seek new opportunities, the presence of the Derby name in Leicester suggests that earlier generations had migrated from the town of Derby to settle in the surrounding countryside. This movement was common for families looking to secure land or trade positions in growing towns like Leicester during the Stuart period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Deoraby
Old Norse for village or settlement of the deer.
This name
DerbyA habitational name referring to people from the town of Derby.
also spelled
Derbie
Derbey
Related arms
Darbyvariant spelling
Dyrbyvariant spelling
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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
