A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the D'Oilly family of England.
Reg. 5710 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. three stags' heads cabossed or”
NorthamptonStoke D'Oilly · Northampton, c. 1620
Where the D'Oilly Arms Were Recorded
Northampton
Map of England showing where the D'Oilly arms are recorded
The D'Oilly arms were recorded in Northampton, c. 1620.
Northamptonshire was grazing and hunting country in the middle of England, thick with manor houses. Its families were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 D'Oilly 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 Northampton.
Origin & History of the D'Oilly Family in England
The surname D'Oilly traces its origins to the region of Normandy in France, where the name was originally linked to a specific place called Ouilly. After the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, members of the family settled across the British Isles and became prominent landowners. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the D'Oilly family were well-established residents of Northampton. During this period, families with this name were often involved in local government and trade, helping to shape the social fabric of the town. Over many generations, the spelling of the name evolved as it moved through different regions, yet it maintained its connection to its continental roots and its long history of residency in the English Midlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Oilly
A place name derived from the Latin name Oilius.
This name
D'OillyRefers to a person originating from the French commune of Ouilly-le-Vicomte.
also spelled
Doiley
Doyley
Doyly
Related arms
Doileyvariant spelling
D'Oylyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Loyd, Lewis C. The Origins of Some Anglo-Norman Families. 1951
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
