A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Edley family of England.
Reg. 3534 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. on a saltire gu. a leopard's face transfixed with two palmers' staves in saltire or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Edley Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Edley arms are recorded
The Edley 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 Edley 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 Edley Family in England
The surname Edley is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, likely originating as a topographic name for someone who lived near a specific woodland clearing or meadow. By the year 1620, the family was well-established in the historic city of York, a major center of trade and northern administration. During this period, members of the family would have lived through the vibrant yet challenging social shifts of the early seventeenth century. As residents of a walled city with deep Roman and Viking roots, the Edleys were part of a community that balanced traditional craftsmanship with the growing influence of the merchant class. Their presence in York suggests that they were settled citizens who contributed to the local economy and the daily life of one of England’s most significant northern hubs.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ead-leah
Old English elements meaning prosperous or wealthy and a woodland clearing.
This name
EdleyDerived from a locational surname referring to a prosperous or wealthy person's meadow or clearing.
also spelled
Edley
Edlie
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
Hey, David, York: An Illustrated History, 1996
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
York City Archives, Freemen of the City of York Registers
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
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
