Map of England showing where the Ely arms are recorded
The Ely arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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 Ely 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Ely Family in England
PronunciationEE-lee/ˈiːli/
The surname Ely is primarily of English origin and is often classified as a locational name, meaning it was likely adopted by individuals who lived in or near the city of Ely in Cambridgeshire. During the Middle Ages, people frequently took the names of their hometowns to distinguish themselves from others in a growing population. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Essex. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Ely family were settled in this region, where they participated in the local agricultural and social life of the era. This period was a time of significant transition in England, and families like the Elys were often part of the broader movement of people who helped shape the local communities of East Anglia before many eventually looked toward the opportunities offered in the American colonies.
Ely Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Helias
The Greek form of the Hebrew name Elijah meaning Yahweh is God.
This name
ElyA topographic surname for someone who lived on the Isle of Ely.
also spelled
Elie
Elley
Elis
Ellis
Ellys
Related arms
Eleyvariant spelling
Elis, or Elowvariant spelling
Elleyvariant spelling
Ellisvariant 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
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Essex Record Office, Quarter Sessions Rolls, 1620
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
