A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eardley family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2674 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au chev. d'azur, ch. de trois gerbes d'or; au canton de gu., ch. d'une frette d'or. C.: un cerf élancé de gu., ramé d'or. S.: deux cerfs reg. de gu., ramés d'or. D.: NON NOBIS SOLUM.”
Francec. 1789
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Map of France showing where the Eardley arms are recorded
The Eardley arms were recorded in France, c. 1789.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XVI of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XVI of France
1774–1791
Reigning in France when the Eardley arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Eardley Family in France
The history of the Eardley name in France is deeply tied to the social and political landscape of the late eighteenth century. While the name itself has deep roots in English history, records confirm that family members were established in the region of Bretagne by 1789. This was a period of immense upheaval in France, as the French Revolution began to reshape the lives of everyone living in the country. Families residing in Bretagne during this time often navigated a complex environment where local traditions collided with the rapid spread of new national ideals. The presence of the Eardley name in this specific coastal province suggests that these early members were part of the intricate social fabric of the era, living through the transition from the old monarchy to the birth of the modern French republic. By documenting their lives in this region, we gain a clearer picture of how individuals with international connections adapted to the intense pressures of the French revolutionary period.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, ar. on a chev. az. three garbs or, a canton gu. charged with a fret of the first, for EARDLEY; 2nd and 3rd, vert three acorns slipped or, for SMITH”
MiddlesexHadley · Middlesex, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Eardley arms are recorded
The Eardley arms were recorded in Middlesex, c. 1620.
Middlesex was the county around London, and City money flowed straight into it. Merchants and officials bought estates within reach of the capital, and a new estate brought a coat of arms with it.
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 France when the Eardley 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 Middlesex.
Origin & History of the Eardley Family in England
The surname Eardley is a locational name that originated from the Old English words for earth and clearing, suggesting that the earliest members of the family likely lived near a prominent field or a forest opening. While the name is most famously associated with the county of Staffordshire, records confirm that the family had established a presence in Middlesex by 1620. During this period, the Eardleys were part of a growing class of families who moved toward the London area as the capital became a hub for trade and administrative work. Life in early seventeenth-century Middlesex was defined by a mix of rural farming and the encroaching influence of the city, placing these early Eardleys in a unique position between traditional agricultural life and the rapid social changes of the Stuart era. As they settled into these new surroundings, the family helped contribute to the local parish records and community life that defined the region before the English Civil War.
Eardley Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Eard-leah
Old English elements meaning earth or soil and a woodland clearing.
This name
EardleyDerived from a place name signifying a clearing located on or near the earth.
also spelled
Eardly
Eardlie
Eardlay
Erdley
Erdly
Related arms
Pettysame arms
Petye, Pettie, or Pettysame arms
Yardeleysame arms
Cardinallrecorded with Eardley, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série L: Administration départementale de 1790 à 1800
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Série L: Documents relatifs à la période révolutionnaire
Dupuy, Roger, La Bretagne sous la Révolution et l'Empire, 2004
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
