Map of England showing where the Eckley arms are recorded
The Eckley arms were recorded in Hereford, c. 1200.
Herefordshire lay on the Welsh border, where land was held in return for military service. Families there were expected to arm and to fight, and a fighting household needed a shield it could be known by.
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.
John, King of England
Sovereign of the period
John, King of England
1199–1216
Reigning in England when the Eckley 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 Hereford.
Origin & History of the Eckley Family in England
The surname Eckley is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. Historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the county of Herefordshire by the year 1200. The name is derived from the Old English words for an oak tree and a clearing or meadow, suggesting that the first people to use the name lived near a prominent oak grove. During the medieval period, families often took their surnames from the small hamlets or estates where they resided. As the family grew, they became deeply connected to the rural landscape of the Welsh Marches. This region was a volatile borderland, and the early Eckleys likely played a role in the local agricultural and social life of the area as they settled into their ancestral home.
Eckley Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Eccles
Derived from the Latin word ecclesia meaning a church or assembly.
This name
EckleyA locational surname referring to someone who lived near a church or a church settlement.
also spelled
Eckly
Ecklie
Eckleigh
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Herefordshire Archives, Herefordshire Lay Subsidy Rolls, 13th Century
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
swordJustice, and military honour
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
swordJustice, and military honour
