A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Evoy family of Ireland.
Reg. 9036 · Irish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
handFaith, sincerity and justice
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Per fess az. and per pale or and erm. a fess gu. issuant therefrom a demi lion ar. in the dexter base a dexter hand couped at the wrist of the fourth”
MeathTobertinan · Meath, c. 1645
Where the Evoy Arms Were Recorded
Meath
Map of Ireland showing where the Evoy arms are recorded
The Evoy arms were recorded in Meath, c. 1645.
Meath was the best farmland in Ireland and the old seat of its high kings. Norman families took it early and held it, and land of that quality kept the same families on it for centuries.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Evoy arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Meath.
Origin & History of the Evoy Family in Ireland
The family name Evoy is deeply rooted in the history of County Meath, Ireland, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1645. The name is an anglicized version of the Gaelic surname Ó hAodha, which translates to descendant of Aodh, a name meaning fire. During the mid-seventeenth century, families in this region faced significant political upheaval and land redistribution, which often forced people to adapt their traditional Gaelic names into forms that were easier for English-speaking officials to record. By the time the family was documented in Meath during the 1640s, they were part of a complex social landscape where local clans were navigating the transition from old Gaelic customs to the administrative structures of the time. This period was marked by the Irish Confederate Wars, meaning the ancestors of the Evoy family lived through a time of great conflict and change that shaped the future of their community in the east of Ireland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ó hAodha
Descendant of Aodh, an ancient Irish name meaning fire.
This name
EvoyA surname derived from the Gaelic term for fire, signifying a descendant of the fiery one.
also spelled
McEvoy
Evoy
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of Ireland, 1654–1656
Woulfe, Patrick, Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames, 1923
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
handFaith, sincerity and justice
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
handFaith, sincerity and justice
