A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eye family of Ireland.
Reg. 7392 · Irish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Or, on a chief az. two mullets ar”
Irelandc. 1645
Where the Eye Arms Were Recorded
Dublin
Map of Ireland showing where the Eye arms are recorded
The Eye arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Eye 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 Ireland.
Origin & History of the Eye Family in Ireland
The surname Eye is a rare name that likely originated as a descriptive term for someone living near a specific geographical feature, such as an island or a low-lying wetland. In Old English, the word "ey" referred to an island or a piece of land surrounded by water. By the time members of the family were recorded in Dublin in 1645, the name had likely transitioned from a simple description of a person's home to a formal family identifier. During the mid-seventeenth century, Dublin was a bustling center of trade and political change, and the presence of the Eye family there suggests they were part of the urban population navigating the complex social landscape of Ireland at that time. While the name remains uncommon today, its roots in early topographical language provide a glimpse into how families were identified by their surroundings long before modern record-keeping became standard.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
O hAodha
Descendant of Aodh, an ancient Irish name meaning fire.
This name
EyeAn anglicized variant derived from the Gaelic name meaning son of the fire.
also spelled
Eya
Eie
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Dublin, 1654–1656
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
